In Japan-China Ties, the Past Is Personal

[JayMandan]

Japan will inevitally sink to pacfic, so let them have some dreams,

Mercy!

by the way, though it is their business how Japan deal with American, i wonder it is under American's dominion that creats the prosperity of the today's Japanese.

How about China stop doing business with America and the west. Let's see how well your're country will manage.

 

[welcomeJason]

How about China stop doing business with America and the west. Let's see how well your're country will manage.

You mistake the times,really! It's eastern times now.
The days of 200 years of the west is fading away。。。

 

[JayMandan]

Oh wow really...that explains it. Everyday you learn something new. Uh huh. Yeah.

 

[Aepsilons]

I thought Taiwan was the crown jewel of Japanese colonial administration.

In regards to nation building, yes Taiwan was the first territory to be developed and lessons from Taiwan served as teaching lessons for the development of Korea, which in turn provided a lesson for the development of Manchuria. The level of construction and development in Manchuria / Manchukuo was unheard of, in terms of size and scale. It was aimed to become "Greater Japan" , literally a colonization program that was unheard of. By 1945, there was up to 5 million Japanese immigrants living in Manchukuo.

It had been a training ground for some of the region’s top government leaders, bureaucrats and scientists. Among them was Park Chung-hee, the father of South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye and a Japanese collaborator in Manchukuo—a first lieutenant in the Japanese Imperial army.

I never, ever knew of this. But very interesting to see that the Father of Korea and the very principal mind that developed the South Korean economy and nation into an 'Asian Tiger' utilized his experiences, training, and policies that he had learned when he served as a 1st Lieutenant in the Imperial Japanese Army, while stationed in Manchukuo.

Some pictures of Park-San over the years....

Park Chung Hee in Imperial Japanese Army Uniform:

Park Chung Hee in Imperial Army uniform:

Park Chung Hee as President of Republic of Korea:

Park Chung Hee's daughter, Park Geun Hye (current President of South Korea):

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

Japan Manchuria was among the fastest economic growing region, having far deeper industrial base than Shanghai. If today Manchuria is still controlled by Japan, she would be far more advance than any other province in China.

To be honest, Japan has put a lot of effort in developing Manchuria and Taiwan now vilified as "exploitation".

In Taiwan, Japan also start to treat the people more or less nicely over the years. That is the reason why mainland Chinese KMT landed in Taiwan, the people started to hate them because their conduct is even far far worse than Japanese.

Its time Chinese people adopt a more balanced view.

lol, Manchuria was industrialized thanked to this guy.

Zhang Zuolin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Japan only wanted the resources from Manchuria, and they didn't give a damn about people's lives.

The Chinese people weren't even allowed to eat the good quality rice during their occupation. If anyone dared to hide a bag of rice, then the punishment would be death.

伪满洲国时期中国人不准吃大米 抓住就定罪严惩-中新网

 

[Aepsilons]

Modern Japanese people must understand one thing, we chinese are not blaming you for the guilt that your ancestors did, but blaming you for the denying of it. While your media and gov keep boasting the invasion of China is good act, we Chinese still suffer from the history. Especially many Chinese from the north part, including me, have relatives murdered during the japs invasion.

Both Chinese and Japanese people have tried to seek a way out of the past hatred since the end of war. From the 1970s to the early 1990s we indeed had good relationship. But it's your premier and media who destroyed this relation by keeping visiting the Yasukuni shrine.

Just imagine, if your grandfather is murdered by your neighbor's grandfather, and he keeps worship this guilty act. How can you have a good relation with him?

Very poignant. I think its good to consider the other side's point of view, but this Wall Street Journal Article definitely provides another vantage point. Thanks also for sharing your opinion and perspective.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

中日战争是争谁做亚洲老大， 日美战争是文明冲突。实际上日本占领的中国土地若没遇到抵抗，都会下心血经营，远胜国民党。

若能抓住这个关键，人们就不会那么仇日。黄种人和白人有文明冲突的暗流。

Japan will never become the ruler of East Asia.

When Japan was strong, they vandalized the entire East Asia.

Now Japan becomes weak, they collaborate with the US to curb China's rise.

 

[Aepsilons]

lol, Manchuria was industrialized thanked to this guy.

Zhang Zuolin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Japan only wanted the resources from Manchuria, and they didn't give a damn about people's lives.

The Chinese people weren't even allowed to eat the good quality rice during their occupation. If anyone dared to hide a bag of rice, then the punishment would be death.

伪满洲国时期中国人不准吃大米 抓住就定罪严惩-中新网

Definitely I agree that the aim of Japan, during that time, in Manchuria wa for peaceful reasons and she had an ambitious motive. I do not agree with the brutal policy Japan had implemented with Chinese people during that time, and the way Japan had conducted the war after 1931 was truly deplorable. In my opinion, Japan had the opportunity to help develop that region peacefully and could have accessed resources through the proper channels. Unfortunately and regretfully, the myopic view of Japan under the Military Government did not provide such an opportunity to occur.

Its truly shameful time. Sometimes, I think of what could have "been" achieved had Japan chosen the democratic route and prevented the Military Government from taking full control in 1925.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

Definitely I agree that the aim of Japan, during that time, in Manchuria was for peaceful reasons and she had an ambitious motive. I do not agree with the brutal policy Japan had implemented with Chinese people during that time, and the way Japan had conducted the war after 1931 was truly deplorable. In my opinion, Japan had the opportunity to help develop that region peacefully and could have accessed resources through the proper channels. Unfortunately and regretfully, the myopic view of Japan under the Military Government did not provide such an opportunity to occur.

I truly shameful time. Sometimes, I think of what could have "been" achieved had Japan chosen the democratic route and prevented the Military Government from taking full control in 1925.

Then your current government shouldn't keep glorifying these war criminals.

If your government still doesn't want to change their mind, then the relationship between China and Japan will never get improved.

 

[Aepsilons]

Japan will never become the ruler of East Asia.

When Japan was strong, they vandalized the entire East Asia.

Now Japan becomes weak, they collaborate with the US to curb China's rise.

There were constituents in the Diet, during the 1920s, that called for a liberalization of Japan during the early 20th century. Unfortunately, Japan had fallen under the sway of the influence of the Military, especially the war hawks in the Military, who had infiltrated not only the ranks of the Imperial Privy Council, but had utilized scare tactics , threats, and even outright assassinations of major Japanese lawmkers in the Diet. It was similar to the way how the Nazi Party took control of Germany during the late 1920s and early 1930s.

The first thing that the Military Government did when it took control was the repression of the media. Interestingly enough prior to the Military taking control, Japan had a liberalized news media, and one that was ideal and a model for Asia. I blame the Military Government for not only steering Japan towards war with China and the West, but for the losses of lives in Asia.

I can't help of wonder and dream of what could have happened....had Japan retained and protected its fragile Democracy during the early 20th century.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

There were constituents in the Diet, during the 1920s, that called for a liberalization of Japan during the early 20th century. Unfortunately, Japan had fallen under the sway of the influence of the Military, especially the war hawks in the Military, who had infiltrated not only the ranks of the Imperial Privy Council, but had utilized scare tactics , threats, and even outright assassinations of major Japanese lawmkers in the Diet. It was similar to the way how the Nazi Party took control of Germany during the late 1920s and early 1930s.

The first thing that the Military Government did when it took control was the repression of the media. Interestingly enough prior to the Military taking control, Japan had a liberalized news media, and one that was ideal and a model for Asia. I blame the Military Government for not only steering Japan towards war with China and the West, but for the losses of lives in Asia.

I can't help of wonder and dream of what could have happened....had Japan retained and protected its fragile Democracy during the early 20th century.

Ironically, your Abe government now wanna go back to the militarism era.

You cannot just deny this fact.

 

[cnleio]

@Lux de Veritas

LOL ... stupid ! Imperial Japan start the War & end in the War, compared with other Great Imperial in human history ... it's not SMART !

WAR with China, U.S, USSR together ... a big gamble to bet Japan future.

 

[Aepsilons]

Then your current government shouldn't keep glorifying these war criminals.

If your government still doesn't want to change their mind, then the relationship between China and Japan will never get improved.

Sure, very true. And I agree with you that GOJ needs to foster and cultivate a culture of understanding with the Chinese side, Korean side et al. This article definitely shines light on the dichtomy of "points of views" , and we, as a people, need to understand the importance of perspective ; both the good and the bad.

As for the glorification of the crimes conducted in the war, I agree with you. There needs to be an "acceptance" of the crimes that were conducted , and most importantly, there needs to be an active resolution to stop honoring war criminals who were involved with activities that do not represent or even represent the character of Everyday Japanese!

This is my hope and this is my wish.

Ironically, your Abe government now wanna go back to the militarism era.

You cannot just deny this fact.

Abe feels that he has to complete the iniative of his grandfather, the late PM Kishi, who wanted Japan to rebuild its defense forces , that was controlled by the Government, and not the one controlling Government. That was the very difference that represents post-war Japan from peri-war Japan. You should know that throughout the war PM Kishi and many others who spoke about the war in China were placed in house arrest. Kishi was strongly against the war in China and had counseled many individuals in Diet as well as military officials, including Tojo, to stop the war. Unfortunately, during that time, the Military Hawks controlled everything.

While I do agree that Abe is conservative (in the Japanese sense; Americans would consider his policies , especially his pro-large government role and protective policies as "left-leaning" ), he is definitely centered on democracy and on a democratic process. He is not a "militant" so to say , but only fosters the same ideals as his late grandfather who espoused a Japan without post-war limitations on its abilities. A post-war Japan that is a Liberal Democracy and not one under a Military Dictatorship.

 

[terranMarine]

Had Japan not waged war in Asia, it would have a sovereign foreign policy today and probably a very powerful East Asia Union could have been forged between China/Korea/Japan. Imagine the war didn't take place and Japan was ahead of its time with industrialization it could have helped Korea/China with trade or investments as Japan would benefit from this. Well Japan made the wrong decision and it took years before Sino-Japanese were normalized yet the ghost from the past still lingers in the thoughts among Chinese and Koreans. A pity that Japan still cannot learn from Germany.

 

[Aepsilons]

@Lux de Veritas

LOL ... stupid ! Imperial Japan start the War & end in the War, compared with other Great Imperial in human history ... it's not SMART !

WAR with China, U.S, USSR together ... a big gamble to bet Japan future.

We have to think about this through the lens of "knowing one's failures". The Japan of today and Japanese people are probably the most rabid anti-war, pro-pacifists in the world. There is even a derision in Japanese society against those who are "ultranationalists" and reference to them as bigots.

You have to understand that being a Japanese Nationalist does not unilaterally mean being an Ultranationalist Radical like those Uyoku Dantai Types. Being a Japanese Nationalist means understanding Japan's faults in the past, taking action to repair these failures and past shame. At the same time, making ground-breaking policy to re-energize the Japanese Economy, and also to ensure Japanese Military is strong enough, capable enough to resist any threats to Japanese national strategic interests. This means threats outside, especially in strategic choke points like say in the MIddle East, Somali Coast, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean et al. This does not necessarily mean a military to use against China. I think it is time and evident that China and Japan have a broader view on our interests.

I do believe that majority of Japanese are Nationalists , but with a view that sees China as a partner. There is no reason why Japanese Nationalists and Chinese Nationalists cannot see things eye to eye and press for an integrated future. Harmony between China and Japan is what binds us both. And so I wish and hope that Abe's next 4 years will reflect this need. When the people voted for him again this year, i think he realizes that we approved of his recent "warming" relations with China's Xi Jinping. And I hope that the next 4 years will build on this "Chinese-Japanese cooperation".

Perhaps I am an idealist. But I hope for a greater integration between Japan and China. I view China as a brother civilization and state. And Japan's natural friend and ally.