Japan's former PM says China seeking 'lebensraum'

[CardSharp]

Joke of the century

Japan's conservative former prime minister Shinzo Abe has accused China of pursuing a modern-day policy of "lebensraum" with its growing assertiveness over disputed territories.

"Lebensraum," or "living space," was a key tenet in the philosophy of Adolf Hitler who believed that Germany deserved space, especially in eastern Slavic areas, in which to grow.

Abe, on a visit to Washington, voiced concern about the expansion of China's navy including in the East China Sea, where Japan's recent arrest of a Chinese captain near disputed islands set off an intense feud between the two nations.

"Since the 1980s, China's military strategy has rested on the concept of a 'strategic frontier,'" Abe said in an address late last week before the Hudson Institute think-tank.

"In a nutshell, this very dangerous idea posits that borders and exclusive economic zones are determined by national power, and that as long as China's economy continues to grow, its sphere of influence will continue to expand.

"Some might associate this with the German concept of 'lebensraum,'" Abe said.

Abe, whose Liberal Democratic Party is now in opposition, blasted prime minister Naoto Kan's response to the naval incident as "very foolish." Japan freed the skipper after pressure from China, including what businesses said was a halt to exports of rare minerals crucial to Japanese industry.

Accusing the Chinese fishing boat of intentionally ramming a Japanese coast guard vessel, Abe said: "Such a barbaric act cannot be overlooked."

"I must say that the interpretation of the situation by the prime minister's office was frighteningly naive," Abe said.

Abe also said China may be responding to what he saw as its "indignity of capitulation" against US military power during the 1996 standoff over the Strait of Taiwan, likening Beijing's path to that of the Soviet Union following the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.

"Perhaps the party's leaders, despite their fear of meeting the same fate as the Soviet Union, are unable to resist the call of the People's Liberation Army for a military buildup," Abe said.

Abe, who was prime minister from 2006 to 2007 and remains a lawmaker, has long been known for his hawkish views. However, as prime minister he moved to repair ties with China which had soured under his high-profile predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi.

Abe said he remained supportive of cooperation with China but "in a way that is conducive to peace and stability" in Asia.

"That is the guiding principle that China should follow, and if it strays from that path, it should be admonished," Abe said.

Despite Abe's criticism, US officials have hailed Kan as a "statesman" for trying to ease tensions with China.

Japan's former PM says China seeking 'lebensraum' - Yahoo! Malaysia News

 

[below_freezing]

We might also associate Japan's aggressive war and genocide against China with Nazism too. Maybe they should associate our actions with what their beloved American dads did to them. I wonder what % of japanese have white blood in them now.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

WTF lol.

The Axis powers were Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.

Shinzo Abe is just making Japan lose face, by causing everyone to remember WW2... and the associated Japanese war crimes and atrocities that occurred during that time.

 

[siegecrossbow]

Living space. Yes that makes perfect sense. How many people can you fit on Diaoyu exactly?

 

[SXNJ]

China is facing the same situation like Germany before WWI

 

[NWO]

China is facing the same situation like Germany before WWI

In what way?

 

[huzihaidao12]

In what way?

New forces bring impact to the old world order. However, we have deep relationships with the world, promote development of the world, both developed and developing countries, so Germany is not the same.

 

[NFR]

"In a nutshell, this very dangerous idea posits that borders and exclusive economic zones are determined by national power, and that as long as China's economy continues to grow, its sphere of influence will continue to expand.

That would be why China settled most of its border disputes against its neighbours, even really weak ones, amicably, and in some cases giving up territory...

And purposefully pick the two of the strongest neighbour to have an active dispute with (India and Japan. Along with Russia these constitute the only powers bordering China that aren't much weaker than China).

The man's an ***.

 

[ThatDamnGood]

This is coming from the place where the Hinomaru still flies while the Germans stopped using the reverse Swastika flag. Even the Italians took out the eagle from their Tricolour flag.

Wasn't current Japanese FM someone who say Japan needs to use force to contain China just a few years ago?

 

[peaceful]

why we Chinese should even discuss his crap?

 

[gpit]

Strongly suspect that Japanese politicians have mental problem: USA nuked Japan, but Japan complains about China’s nuclear power, not US's; Japan joined the Axis of evil Germany in WWII, but now it equals China to Germany.

What the F is the Japanese logic?

 

[siegecrossbow]

The only country in the world that is practicing the "One Child Policy" also happens to seek 'lebensraum'.

 

[WAQAS119]

lol, when I first saw the heading I thought it says "Japan's former PM says China seeking 'lesbians'"

 

[ChinaRocks]

We chinese must prepare for the worse the alliance between japan and india against china is a possibility

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Strongly suspect that Japanese politicians have mental problem: USA nuked Japan, but Japan complains about China’s nuclear power, not US's; Japan joined the Axis of evil Germany in WWII, but now it equals China to Germany.

What the F is the Japanese logic?

Exactly right. Their logic is all messed up.

It was AMERICA that nuked them.

And it was JAPAN that sided with Nazi Germany, it was Japan who committed atrocities that in some cases (Unit 731) even surpassed the brutality of the Nazi regime.