Japan and South Korea work to Improve Relations

[Aepsilons]

The thing is that, despite N.Korea being an Chinese vessel state, it seems to be more an headache as much as it is an asset as an bargaining chip against the South. The Chinese and even the PRC leadership hate the North and DPRK recently killed high ranking generals and politicians like the 'Great' leaders own uncle who represented Chinese interest. And like any Korean nationalist, they claimed parts of Manchuria as part of Korea. If S.Korea hated China more than Japan then their leaders would be moaning ten times as much to the PRC as opposed to Japan but instead we see the opposite despite Japan apologizing and giving literally billion of dollars of reconstruction machinery to the South Korea for Free or lower cost as reparation during the 60s,70s and early 80s. We gave them more than 'monetary compensation', Japan gave SK ENTIRE (literally ENTIRE) blueprints on civilian technology on the likes of semiconductors, auto-industries, infrastructure and shipbuilding technology which allowed Korea to export and gain capital. Funny how little Korea made the issue of Chinese military modernization yet makes diplomatic statements about Abe's amendment to Article 9 by bringing up random statements about Japanese colonization and aggression. And South Korea has little dispute with China other than fishing trawlers ending up to their West Coast. But look how nuts the Takeshima situation is despite Chinese encroachment. And about the NK issue, it's just an sideshow even for the USA. Since the 1990s, NK has been just hot air with very few military threats to the SK forces and US Pacific command other than possible nuclear threats (which China would not tolerate because, as I said before, the NK would act outside PRC's jurisdictions given the chance). US army command wants boots in the region of NEA to keep an good on Chinese expansion as well increasing base in the Asia Pacific for Marines and Navy forces. And see how the US blocked SK civilian space programs like creating launch systems while allows JAXA to continue unmolested? While the Average S.Korean see the US as an create ally, they would rather have an Moderate China to an resurgent Japan. US is miles always and may one day decline while China is here to stay, where their it's an poor developing nation or the World's largest economy.
Ask the Chinese members @Chinese-Dragon @ChineseTiger1986

Hello @Aegis DDG ,

All of these are strong points. It is evident that there are some lingering differences on both the Japanese and Korean side(s) that prevents the flowering of relations. I do hope that prudent policy making on our Korean friends' part will allow them to see the threat(s) that China poses on Korean industry. Our Chinese friends here claim that the fact that there are a large Korean population in China working and studying in certain cities in China -- as basis of an alliance between the two countries. Tho we understand the positives that contributes to the Chinese domestic economy, Korea defintiely has a strategic tight rope -- to take advantage of the Chinese market , whilst at the same time remembering to maintain a sober vantage of point of knowing that China still supports and upholds the North Korean Regime. I believe that our friends in Seoul are pragmatic as well as realistic.

First of all, when N.Korea have taken the peninsula, it would have been a hell gate opening for 70000000 people and all Koreans thanks US and UN for its help. What China concern about this matter is that they want a buffer zone between them and US, just like as old USSR. And our wish is not to get below the goddamn piggy in the north but to gain peaceful reunification just just like old Germany. Even if there is an invasion of N.Korea, it will be their huge mistake to do so, and Jung Un knows that it is better not to do so, if he wants to survive.

Very good sobering point(s).

 

[mike2000]

The thing is that, despite N.Korea being an Chinese vessel state, it seems to be more an headache as much as it is an asset as an bargaining chip against the South. The Chinese and even the PRC leadership hate the North and DPRK recently killed high ranking generals and politicians like the 'Great' leaders own uncle who represented Chinese interest. And like any Korean nationalist, they claimed parts of Manchuria as part of Korea. If S.Korea hated China more than Japan then their leaders would be moaning ten times as much to the PRC as opposed to Japan but instead we see the opposite despite Japan apologizing and giving literally billion of dollars of reconstruction machinery to the South Korea for Free or lower cost as reparation during the 60s,70s and early 80s. We gave them more than 'monetary compensation', Japan gave SK ENTIRE (literally ENTIRE) blueprints on civilian technology on the likes of semiconductors, auto-industries, infrastructure and shipbuilding technology which allowed Korea to export and gain capital. Funny how little Korea made the issue of Chinese military modernization yet makes diplomatic statements about Abe's amendment to Article 9 by bringing up random statements about Japanese colonization and aggression. And South Korea has little dispute with China other than fishing trawlers ending up to their West Coast. But look how nuts the Takeshima situation is despite Chinese encroachment. And about the NK issue, it's just an sideshow even for the USA. Since the 1990s, NK has been just hot air with very few military threats to the SK forces and US Pacific command other than possible nuclear threats (which China would not tolerate because, as I said before, the NK would act outside PRC's jurisdictions given the chance). US army command wants boots in the region of NEA to keep an good on Chinese expansion as well increasing base in the Asia Pacific for Marines and Navy forces. And see how the US blocked SK civilian space programs like creating launch systems while allows JAXA to continue unmolested? While the Average S.Korean see the US as an create ally, they would rather have an Moderate China to an resurgent Japan. US is miles always and may one day decline while China is here to stay, where their it's an poor developing nation or the World's largest economy.
Ask the Chinese members @Chinese-Dragon @ChineseTiger1986

I completly aree with all the points you made here. I love Asia quite alot, and i have studied and travelled to several countries in the region(China, South Korea, and Japan included). What i can say is that, teh U.S made a big mistake by not denazifying Japan like it did with Germany. The U.S should have made sure Japan really repent sincerely to its asian neighbours, criminalised the denial of war crimes like it did with Germany and the U.S should have also judged and punished/execute all those Japanese officals who were responsible for war crimes(first of which should have been the emperor) like Unit 731, nanjing massacre, crimes in Korean, crimes in Phillipines, comfort women sexual slavery, ballonette of babies tech. This should have created more peace and reconciliation in Asia, and would have brought Japan and south Korea more closer to a natural alliance and would have made it hard for China to use this issue for its own interests..

However the U.S choosed the opposite, this has created a situation where i dont think there will ever be any alliance between Japan and south Korea, as i said before, i noticed while in korea that South korea has a huge hatred for Japan(even more than the Chinese hate Japan). The only country standing between South Korea from forming an official alliance with China against Japan is the U.S. but time isnot in Japan side, with each passing year/decade China will only get stronger and naturally pull Korea even more closer to it. This will be even more so, as i dont see Japan ever changing its position of denying and reavaluating its past history and yakushini visits etc.
Its really unfortunate , as Japan has missed the opportunity to right its past wrong, unlike Germany and moved on, thi has created the perfect opportunity for china to use this to its benefit. I dont ever see South Korea forming any alliance with Japan as long as japan keeps its current postion of denying its past history(i dont se that changing anytime soon), instead i foresee a closer and closer relationship between south Korea and China and China grows stronger and stonger with its huge market/demand which south korea is keen to tap just my 2 cents.

 

[Aepsilons]

I completly aree with all the points you made here. I love Asia quite alot, and i have studied and travelled to several countries in the region(China, South Korea, and Japan included). What i can say is that, teh U.S made a big mistake by not denazifying Japan like it did with Germany. The U.S should have made sure Japan really repent sincerely to its asian neighbours, criminalised the denial of war crimes like it did with Germany and the U.S should have also judged and punished/execute all those Japanese officals who were responsible for war crimes(first of which should have been the emperor) like Unit 731, nanjing massacre, crimes in Korean, crimes in Phillipines, comfort women sexual slavery, ballonette of babies tech. This should have created more peace and reconciliation in Asia, and would have brought Japan and south Korea more closer to a natural alliance and would have made it hard for China to use this issue for its own interests..

However the U.S choosed the opposite, this has created a situation where i dont think there will ever be any alliance between Japan and south Korea, as i said before, i noticed while in korea that South korea has a huge hatred for Japan(even more than the Chinese hate Japan). The only country standing between South Korea from forming an official alliance with China against Japan is the U.S. but time isnot in Japan side, with each passing year/decade China will only get stronger and naturally pull Korea even more closer to it. This will be even more so, as i dont see Japan ever changing its position of denying and reavaluating its past history and yakushini visits etc.
Its really unfortunate , as Japan has missed the opportunity to right its past wrong, unlike Germany and moved on, thi has created the perfect opportunity for china to use this to its benefit. I dont ever see South Korea forming any alliance with Japan as long as japan keeps its current postion of denying its past history(i dont se that changing anytime soon), instead i foresee a closer and closer relationship between south Korea and China and China grows stronger and stonger with its huge market/demand which south korea is keen to tap just my 2 cents.

@mike2000 ,

We've all discussed (to the point of ad nauseum) on the reasons why Korea and Japan are at odds with each other. To me, these respective feelings of want are understandable. I will step outside the box and try to understand the Korean perspective: 1) The feeling of animosity regarding the colonization of Korea by Japan since 1905, 2) Militarization of Korea by Japan during the Pacific War, 3) The propagation of condescension towards Korean people during the Colonial period, and other issues will remain a dividing aspect.

While I myself wish that relations with Korea and Japan to increase, I know that these emotional factor(s) are present. You have been to Asia , as from our past conversations, and what i must impress upon you and remind you to remember -- is the issue of East Asian psychology / East Asian mentality. One that is overly sentimental / overly emotional / and repressive of said feelings / internalizing said feelings. This is something that is greatly wanting and greatly dichotomous compared to our western counterpart(s) say in the United States, UK, Germany, France , Canada who vouchsafe each other to enunciate emotions.

Would that East Asian societies were as open in emotional and cognitive expressions !

History is still fresh, and perhaps within a couple of decades or so, we might see the eventual flowering of relationships. I mean, let us look at Britain and France; it took these two great powers some 2-3 hundred years to eventually form a working rapport system. After being bitter and ravenous rivals during the Age of European Colonialism. ^^


I remain and Respectfully Yours,
@Nihonjin1051

 

[Pakistanisage]

I was not aware that South Korea and Japan had a strained relationship....

 

[Aepsilons]

It is something that both nations need to actively work on.