History As Proxy
A recent Nikkei (Nov 18) article suggests that Japan’s relations with China may stagnate or take a turn for the worse. This slowdown is attributed to a calculated reluctance by the Chinese to pursue a stronger relationship with Japan at this time. They might be right.
Beijing, says the article, “may think it too risky to make deals, including concessions with the Aso government, given the possibility that the government might be replaced through a lower house election to be held next year. Japan’s diplomacy with China is now in a difficult phase.”
Earlier in November (Nov 9), China’s CCTV aired a long, relatively favorable interview with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso. The show characterized him as pragmatic and avoided any sensitive or controversial issues such as Taiwan or Yasukuni or even wartime apology. Aso was praised for his policy of mutual benefits. The interviewer concluded that Aso was popular in Japan because of his “unconventional behavior,” “irregular features,” and a “radical yet adorable” image that is attractive to his supporters. The interview, however, was taped on October 25th at the ASEM summit.
As far as I know, Beijing has not outwardly expressed any discontent with Tokyo. But Japan is no closer to a general election than it was in October. And a number of subtle criticisms of Japan by those close to China have begun to appear, especially on the history issues.
On November 11, after over a decade of trying, Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan passed a resolution asking Japan to accept its historical responsibility and to give the remaining Comfort Women an unequivocal apology and government compensation. Shortly before, on November 9, the Taiwan’s central government approved registration of the Chinese Association for the Protection of the Tiaoyutai. This organization dedicated to reclaiming disputed maritime territories administered by Japan, had long been refused official status.
In case anyone was not sure where the new KMT government stood, Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou endorsed the group by sending them a personal calligraphy scroll. It should be noted that the President’s 1980 Harvard dissertation “Trouble Over Oily Waters” discussed Japan’s claims to these islands. You can find a version of the dissertation here.
The English-language Chinese newspapers have also begun to point out some of Japan’s history problems. On November 11, the Taipei Times ran an extensive interview with a Canadian long-time resident of Taiwan who organizes activities to remember the thousands of Allied POWs who were slave laborers for Japan on Taiwan.
The Singapore Straits Times on November 17, ran a commentary by senior writer William Choong on the implications of former Air Force General Tamogami’s essay denying that Japan was an aggressor. Choong, noted that the “intriguing thing about the general’s essay is not the ludicrousness of its argument, but the metronomic regularity at which such instances of historical amnesia occur.” This, he added, makes Japan appear as a “two-faced Janus”, on the one hand “constructive” and on the other “obscurantist.” This is not how a leader in Asia should be.
Not to be left behind, Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post on November 18 republished William Underwood’s Japan Times op ed on Prime Minister Aso’s family involvement in using Allied POW and Asia slave laborers in its mines. The article outlined how Aso refused to admit or confront this ugly fact.
I am not sure if there have been Chinese-language articles like those above, but I doubt if it matters. The audience is not Chinese and the history discussion is merely a proxy for another. Beijing appears as impatient with Aso’s refusal to call an election as the opposition DPJ. Whether Aso’s reluctance to hold an election is vanity or political calculation, the result is the same: domestic and international stagnation.
NB: Where I do not have links, the articles are not easily accessible. If you can find links to them, please send them along. I would also be interested in any Chinese-language sources.
Beijing, says the article, “may think it too risky to make deals, including concessions with the Aso government, given the possibility that the government might be replaced through a lower house election to be held next year. Japan’s diplomacy with China is now in a difficult phase.”
Earlier in November (Nov 9), China’s CCTV aired a long, relatively favorable interview with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso. The show characterized him as pragmatic and avoided any sensitive or controversial issues such as Taiwan or Yasukuni or even wartime apology. Aso was praised for his policy of mutual benefits. The interviewer concluded that Aso was popular in Japan because of his “unconventional behavior,” “irregular features,” and a “radical yet adorable” image that is attractive to his supporters. The interview, however, was taped on October 25th at the ASEM summit.
As far as I know, Beijing has not outwardly expressed any discontent with Tokyo. But Japan is no closer to a general election than it was in October. And a number of subtle criticisms of Japan by those close to China have begun to appear, especially on the history issues.
On November 11, after over a decade of trying, Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan passed a resolution asking Japan to accept its historical responsibility and to give the remaining Comfort Women an unequivocal apology and government compensation. Shortly before, on November 9, the Taiwan’s central government approved registration of the Chinese Association for the Protection of the Tiaoyutai. This organization dedicated to reclaiming disputed maritime territories administered by Japan, had long been refused official status.
In case anyone was not sure where the new KMT government stood, Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou endorsed the group by sending them a personal calligraphy scroll. It should be noted that the President’s 1980 Harvard dissertation “Trouble Over Oily Waters” discussed Japan’s claims to these islands. You can find a version of the dissertation here.
The English-language Chinese newspapers have also begun to point out some of Japan’s history problems. On November 11, the Taipei Times ran an extensive interview with a Canadian long-time resident of Taiwan who organizes activities to remember the thousands of Allied POWs who were slave laborers for Japan on Taiwan.
The Singapore Straits Times on November 17, ran a commentary by senior writer William Choong on the implications of former Air Force General Tamogami’s essay denying that Japan was an aggressor. Choong, noted that the “intriguing thing about the general’s essay is not the ludicrousness of its argument, but the metronomic regularity at which such instances of historical amnesia occur.” This, he added, makes Japan appear as a “two-faced Janus”, on the one hand “constructive” and on the other “obscurantist.” This is not how a leader in Asia should be.
Not to be left behind, Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post on November 18 republished William Underwood’s Japan Times op ed on Prime Minister Aso’s family involvement in using Allied POW and Asia slave laborers in its mines. The article outlined how Aso refused to admit or confront this ugly fact.
I am not sure if there have been Chinese-language articles like those above, but I doubt if it matters. The audience is not Chinese and the history discussion is merely a proxy for another. Beijing appears as impatient with Aso’s refusal to call an election as the opposition DPJ. Whether Aso’s reluctance to hold an election is vanity or political calculation, the result is the same: domestic and international stagnation.
NB: Where I do not have links, the articles are not easily accessible. If you can find links to them, please send them along. I would also be interested in any Chinese-language sources.
posted by Mindy Kotler Smith at 2:07 AM
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