For more than 50 years, Japan has so far failed to seriously
introspect its criminal responsibility for invading and enslaving
Asian countries during the late 19th century and the middle of the
20th century and has constantly stood diametrically opposed to
Asian countries on a series of questions, including history
textbook, "comfort women" and wartime labor, politicians' visit to
the Yasukuni Shrine. This line of action taken by Japan is bound to
affect its relations with Asian countries, then why does it still
act arbitrarily, and have no worry about worsening its relations
with Asian countries?
This writer is of the view that the crux of the matter lies in the
question regarding Japan's identification of Asia. Japan lacks
Asian identification; Japanese politicians and media are seldom
heard stressing that Japan is an Asian country. There exists a
major issue regarding Japan's Asian identification.
Before World War II, Japan pursued a policy of "separating itself
from Asia and joining Europe"; after World War II, Japan intended
to "separate itself from Asia and join the United States". Japan
looks down upon Asia, but at the same time it thinks its own nation
and culture are the best in Asia, trying its utmost to draw a clear
line of demarcation between itself and other Asian countries and
nations. This situation has thus far remained unchanged, with the
result that no compromise has been achieved between Japan and
China, Korea, the Republic of Korea as well as Southeast Asian
countries over the question of history. In this sense, Japan is
indeed very isolated in Asia.
To
put it bluntly, the question of identification between Japan and
Asian countries is the fact that today when tremendous changes have
taken place in Asia and the world at large, the Japanese still look
down upon Asia in the old way, and simply do not want to merge
themselves into Asia and straighten out their relations with Asian
countries.
Is
it that Japan does not need Asia? No! Is it that Japan really does
not feel itself being an Asian nation? No! In some external
affairs, Japan gives special thoughts to Asian countries. Japan
wishes to be an Asian country only under the circumstance wherein
things conform to its narrow private interests.
Let me cite two most recent instances: First, Japan is eager to
become a permanent member of the Security Council of the United
Nations, for this end, Japan has to seek support from various Asian
countries; second, Japan often styles itself as "representative" of
Asia at the developed countries' summit (i.e., the eight-nation
summit-seven Western countries plus Russia). At the eight-nation
summit held last year in Japan's Okinawa, Japan appeared in the
capacity of a spokesman for Asian countries, before the summit,
Japan solicited the opinions of many Southeast Asian countries,
hoping that these counties would report to it their opinions about
the developed countries' summit conference, then Japan would bring
these opinions to the eight-nation summit.
That's how Japan is beset with contradictions over the question of
its approach to Asia.
Why does Japan lack the identification of Asia? The reasons are
complicated. This writer maintains that there are five factors:
First is Japan's deep-seated nationalist sentiment. In essence this
nationalism advertises Japan's national superiority and the
interests of Japan's nation stand above everything else, so
naturally it is exclusive of (Asia); second is there is a big
economic gap between Japan and other Asian countries. As the only
developed nation in Asia, Japan's GDP is greater than that of
China, the ROK plus 10 Southeast Asian countries, most East Asian
countries economically depend on Japan, this non-symmetric economic
relationship becomes the material foundation for Japan's
self-importance in Asia; third is Japan's globe-oriented economy
has caused the country to give special attention to the regions
outside Asia; fourth is the union relationship concluded between
Japan and the United States over the issue of security; and fifth
is that although Japan's internal pacifist forces have all along
been very strong, its right-wing forces have caused Asian countries
to maintain wariness and vigilance over Japan.
At
any rate, Japan's lack of Asian identification constitutes an
obstacle to its relations with Asian countries. As long as Japan
fails to set about solving this issue, it will be hard for Japan to
improve its relations with other Asian countries.
(people.com.cn 08/16/2001)