Japan and China: What’s the Best Way Forward?

[kawaraj]

The issue is not about who is stronger, although i cannot agree with the Chinese brother you replied to, but i can understand his feeling.

The issue is about what the Japan is as a country or nation. from the history about thousand years, we learned that Japan as a country or nation was only kind to you when you were stronger or defeated it. Maybe you can have a Japanese friend, but Japan as a country be a good neighbor, never, especially when you were weak. although it is a good student when you were stronger.

Why our cultures are so closed, because Dynasty Tang in China was stronger and much advanced than Japan, so Japan sent Tang ambassador to China to learn culture, technology and all the advanced, especially when Tang defeated Japan in a war broke out in
663 AD in Korean Peninsula. the friendship between China and Japan was from 630 AD to 894 AD. To my honest, Japan was a good student.
In the history, the only time invasion to Japan from so called "China" was actually started by Yuan Dynasty which was ruled by Mongolian.
From Ming Dynasty, Japanese pirates were harassing coastal region for hundred years，
In Qing Dynasty, the sino-japanese war of 1894-1895 broke out, Japan conquered the TaiWan island
In World WAR II, Japan invaded China again and killed about 30million Chinese people.

besides, when the American opened the door of Japan with gun in 1854 AD, Japanese began to learn from the West. and when Japan become strong, then attacked Pearl Harbor in 1945 in World War II. when the USA defeated Japan again, Japan complied again and learned from the USA finally became ally of the USA.

By the way, Koreans will tell more about how many times Japan invaded them.

So history proved that, as a country or nation Japan cannot be believed if you are its neighbor especially you are weaker. what you can do is always stronger and be ready to defeat it. When you are stronger, Japan is a good student, when you are weak, Japan is a awful enemy.

Today, when Japan government is distorting history and beautifying aggression, who can guarantee the history will not be back? China need not prove its strong, Japan have to prove it is harmless to its neighbors.
So make a Japanese true friend easier, make the Japan true friend impossible.

Then build yourself strong. China's diplomacy in the two decades failed tragically if you have no talented foreign minister and no tallented manpower in foreign policies just do what you are good at, build a strong nation.

This is a global world I advise our Chinese members to focus your sight on a higher lever. China's foe can never be inside Asia. If you are as naive as fooled by a Vienamese you never know how the world works beyond nagging.

 

[crowreturns]

Then build yourself strong. China's diplomacy in the two decades failed tragically if you have no talented foreign minister and no tallented manpower in foreign policies just do what you are good at, build a strong nation.

This is a global world I advise our Chinese members to focus your sight on a higher lever. China's foe can never be inside Asia. If you are as naive as fooled by a Vienamese you never know how the world works beyond nagging.

Yes, I agree on this.
strength is the most important, both on soft and hard. our soft power is so weak, it will take a long time at least 30 years I think

Nihonjin is a Vienamese? why does he/she pretend as a Japanese....OK, i am cheated if he/she is a Vienamese...

 

[Aepsilons]

Its interesting in that people claim other people to be of a different nationality if they don't believe or agree with their own views. lol.

But back to address your point, @crowreturns , as for the history between my people and yours; it is not as simple or as black and white as that. Its a bit more complex. But we should focus on more positive developments now and in the future, because the future is influenced by variables which have yet to happen.

 

[kawaraj]

Its interesting in that people claim other people to be of a different nationality if they don't believe or agree with their own views. lol.

But back to address your point, @crowreturns , as for the history between my people and yours; it is not as simple or as black and white as that. Its a bit more complex. But we should focus on more positive developments now and in the future, because the future is influenced by variables which have yet to happen.

I always appreciate you post articles about Japan and always give you a favorable feedback.

It's just the time when you want to represent "Japan" that obliges me to stand up to tell the members you mix your personal opinion with the "Japanse" opinion. You only represent yourself, Vietnamse or Japanese, it's not the public opinion.

The way you put America's interest above Japan's, the mentality of a non-Japanese, even a few Japanese language your speak on the forum, it's just not a real Japanese does.

Still I think it's more important to exchange ideas than to judge others but to the extent of hijacking a majority opinion need to be pointed out to avoid misleading the discusion.

 

[hans]

Don`t worry, buddy..
Hard strength need long time to build, soft strength is not that hard...
The economy is still the most important..
Japan`s soft power much rely on its economy. Without its economy, Japan has no soft power...

Yes, I agree on this.
strength is the most important, both on soft and hard. our soft power is so weak, it will take a long time at least 30 years I think

Nihonjin is a Vienamese? why does he/she pretend as a Japanese....OK, i am cheated if he/she is a Vienamese...

With the growing power of China, both Japan and South Korea are re-balancing between China and US.
Some people will prefer China and some prefer US.
I think in general South Korea will prefer China, Japan will prefer US.
South Korea rely much on China on the economy side, while Japan rely on US...

I always appreciate you post articles about Japan and always give you a favorable feedback.

It's just the time when you want to represent "Japan" that obliges me to stand up to tell the members you mix your personal opinion with the "Japanse" opinion. You only represent yourself, Vietnamse or Japanese, it's not the public opinion.

The way you put America's interest above Japan's, the mentality of a non-Japanese, even a few Japanese language your speak on the forum, it's just not a real Japanese does.

Still I think it's more important to exchange ideas than to judge others but to the extent of hijacking a majority opinion need to be pointed out to avoid misleading the discusion.

 

[Aepsilons]

I always appreciate you post articles about Japan and always give you a favorable feedback.

It's just the time when you want to represent "Japan" that obliges me to stand up to tell the members you mix your personal opinion with the "Japanse" opinion. You only represent yourself, Vietnamse or Japanese, it's not the public opinion.

The way you put America's interest above Japan's, the mentality of a non-Japanese, even a few Japanese language your speak on the forum, it's just not a real Japanese does.

Still I think it's more important to exchange ideas than to judge others but to the extent of hijacking a majority opinion need to be pointed out to avoid misleading the discusion.

First of all I was giving my answer , which is an honest opinion, when the member @crowreturns asked me for my input. Lastly, my input is my opinion, it is part of a discourse. I would not think you representative because you are not a Japanese. You are merely a Pakistani who lives in Japan and your opinion is not representative of Japanese at all. But rather, representative of a Zainichi Pakisutanjin.Just as I do not agree with everything others posit in this forum, I do not expect everyone to agree with me as well. You have , clearly, a distrust towards America or anything American, and thus you already are biased in that regard. As there are many people in the nation that have positive view and regard for America, some also have negative regards for America. You try to portray that Japan is against America , which is farthest from the truth.

Thanks.

 

[kawaraj]

@Nihonjin1015, If you insist to do this I would be glad to respond. I am not a Japanese but my families are. I share their opinion and I personally work and live in Okinawa for years and I know how people view Amerian troops. As a Vietnamese you know nothing about the real Japan.

This is not against America again you misled the titled topics. This is Japanese opinion on US occupation military staff.

And for security, Japan is strong enough to protect itself as long as US troops stop meddling the Japanese military development. As some guy from Vietnam I know your mentality of secure your own nation by allying with a big guy and it's true throughout the history. But in Japan's case this is not very applicable. The alliance is a party of convinience and it serve more interest of the US than of Japan.

 

[Aepsilons]

No, you fail to comprehend the fact that the majority of the nation values the alliance between Japan and the United States. I have read your posts and you clearly have a predisposition against the US-Japan alliance system. And I can understand how your personal view. Your view is your view, but my view is actually representative of majority of the nation's view in regards to the security alliance system. And overall view of Americans.

I must admit, I am a wee bit more pro-American because I live and work in USA.

私は日本人です

 

[Lure]

The issue is not about who is stronger, although i cannot agree with the Chinese brother you replied to, but i can understand his feeling.

The issue is about what the Japan is as a country or nation. from the history about thousand years, we learned that Japan as a country or nation was only kind to you when you were stronger or defeated it. Maybe you can have a Japanese friend, but Japan as a country be a good neighbor, never, especially when you were weak. although it is a good student when you were stronger.

Why our cultures are so closed, because Dynasty Tang in China was stronger and much advanced than Japan, so Japan sent Tang ambassador to China to learn culture, technology and all the advanced, especially when Tang defeated Japan in a war broke out in
663 AD in Korean Peninsula. the friendship between China and Japan was from 630 AD to 894 AD. To my honest, Japan was a good student.
In the history, the only time invasion to Japan from so called "China" was actually started by Yuan Dynasty which was ruled by Mongolian.
From Ming Dynasty, Japanese pirates were harassing coastal region for hundred years，
In Qing Dynasty, the sino-japanese war of 1894-1895 broke out, Japan conquered the TaiWan island
In World WAR II, Japan invaded China again and killed about 30million Chinese people.

besides, when the American opened the door of Japan with gun in 1854 AD, Japanese began to learn from the West. and when Japan become strong, then attacked Pearl Harbor in 1945 in World War II. when the USA defeated Japan again, Japan complied again and learned from the USA finally became ally of the USA.

By the way, Koreans will tell more about how many times Japan invaded them.

So history proved that, as a country or nation Japan cannot be believed if you are its neighbor especially you are weaker. what you can do is always stronger and be ready to defeat it. When you are stronger, Japan is a good student, when you are weak, Japan is a awful enemy.

Today, when Japan government is distorting history and beautifying aggression, who can guarantee the history will not be back? China need not prove its strong, Japan have to prove its harmless to its neighbors.
So make a Japanese true friend easier, make the Japan true friend impossible.

You actually tend to agree on what I've stated. My main statement was, actual proof of China's strength won't be the ability to destroy Japan in a war. The actual proof of strength would be the China's ability to convince Japan to become allies.

If we dive deep into history, there wouldn't be any European Union today. Because believe me, if you wanna see backstabbing in history, you should read European history not the Asian one! Europe (including Turks) spent a millennium fighting each other. Do you know how many times the alliances were broken? How many backstabbing? I can say plenty.

Right now the Europe had put aside history and their differences. Why not Asian nations can't do it? That's the actual point.

And the most important problem is does China really has such a vision? And if your answer is true, than China -as a great power- should take every responsibility to make it true. You can't just complain about "how Japanese ruling elite treats China". You don't have this luxury. If you think Japan's ruling elite is a problem then tame them!

Think of this world as a large swimming pool and every nation is competing on that pool to swim faster. Until 1950 our ancestor were trying to kill their opponent instead of swimming. Because swimming faster was hard. Killing was easier.

Today no nation has the right to do it. You should swim on that swimming pool fast if you want respect. Ability to kill doesn't mean anything after the nuclear weapons. Even a kid can kill millions by just pressing a button today. We are so efficient at that.

A developed China has huge potential. If you don't make any blunder and continue your development, you have a huge potential. This is the thing people admire about you. You are about to pass the threshold of development. Can you even imagine what civil technologies can a developed China can create? Maybe the cure of Cancer will be found by Chinese scientists. Maybe the quantum computers? Quantum telecommunications? Next generation rapid transportation? Next generation aviation technologies? You name it. Asian nations has this potential. You have the potential of swimming fast, why you want to kill your opponent? That's the basic question. Swim fast and gain it's respect. If it resists to respect "make it a friend of yours no matter what. Take every responsibility."

Our friend was basically preaching about striking Japanese nuclear power plants with long range missiles and proving the ability of China to kill Japanese people. For me this proves nothing, only proves misuse of power! Hard power is important, I'm not going to discuss that. You should make sophisticated weapons. But if your plan A is using that weapons, instead of your Plan D or even Plan E, then China is doomed to fail.

 

[Aepsilons]

Our friend was basically preaching about striking Japanese nuclear power plants with long range missiles and proving the ability of China to kill Japanese people. For me this proves nothing, only proves misuse of power! Hard power is important, I'm not going to discuss that. You should make sophisticated weapons. But if your plan A is using that weapons, instead of your Plan D or even Plan E, then China is doomed to fail.

A developed China has huge potential. If you don't make any blunder and continue your development, you have a huge potential. This is the thing people admire about you. You are about to pass the threshold of development. Can you even imagine what civil technologies can a developed China can create? Maybe the cure of Cancer will be found by Chinese scientists. Maybe the quantum computers? Quantum telecommunications? Next generation rapid transportation? Next generation aviation technologies? You name it. Asian nations has this potential. You have the potential of swimming fast, why you want to kill your opponent? That's the basic question. Swim fast and gain it's respect. If it resists to respect "make it a friend of yours no matter what. Take every responsibility."

To properly understand the situation one has to appreciate the psychological and historical roots of the cultures in Northeast Asia. Characteristics such as duty, enlightenment, honor, loyalty, discipline , filial duty, and should be examined in context of the individual and group psychology of said societies. The intrapsychic variables that defines Chinese and Japanese social psychology explains how and why groups react with sensitivity to references of past injuries.

We are at the cusp of Sino-Japanese relationship being renewed, eased. I hold the position that with China's ascendancy, Japan will and must learn to cooperate in contextual framework of this new strategic reality. China should also be receptive to the idea of greater Sino-Japanese cooperation in varied fields. The future of East Asia depends on the successful rapprochement of China and Japan; greater cultural ties, greater economic initiatives, political understanding, and less military rhetoric. We are charting new waters, new territory; let us be pragmatic , positive and realistic about it. One must be a pine tree rooted on the rock.



Arashi fuku
Yo nimo ugokuna
Hito gokoro
Iwao ni nezasu
Matsu no gotokuni

"No matter how harsh and stormy this world become,
I wish people’s heart remain as solid and undisturbed
as a pine tree rooted on the rock."

-The Emperor Meiji

 

[kalu_miah]

If I may interject. Japan must realize that the previous balance in Asia is going towards imbalance, mainly because of China's sudden rise in past few decades. One way it can be solved in my opinion is for Japan to go for ASEAN+2 (Japan+South Korea) alliance structure and try to engineer a fast development and integration of the ASEAN region with 10%+ economic growth.

ASEAN+2 can also help similar development and integration of few other group of nations, such as Developing 8 and ECO, Arab League, African Union etc., all of which will increase potential markets for goods produced in ASEAN+2.

China has a large internal market for 1.3 billion people. Japan can create access to a bigger internal market by giving lead to several of these group of nations, their market integration and economic development. That may be a way to bring back balance, which will then normalize and neutralize any hostile intentions due to newly grown muscle in some nations.

Lastly depending heavily on India will be a blunder by Japan, as India in the long term will not accept Japan or Japanese as their leader, they only want to use Japan temporarily to gain technological know how. The other groups of nations on the other hand will accept Japanese leadership and partnership for a long time to come.

@Nihonjin1015, If you insist to do this I would be glad to respond. I am not a Japanese but my families are. I share their opinion and I personally work and live in Okinawa for years and I know how people view Amerian troops. As a Vietnamese you know nothing about the real Japan.

This is not against America again you misled the titled topics. This is Japanese opinion on US occupation military staff.

And for security, Japan is strong enough to protect itself as long as US troops stop meddling the Japanese military development. As some guy from Vietnam I know your mentality of secure your own nation by allying with a big guy and it's true throughout the history. But in Japan's case this is not very applicable. The alliance is a party of convinience and it serve more interest of the US than of Japan.

Do you have any evidence about Nihonjin being Vietnamese?