Hyping up fears about Japan’s ‘militarism’ may distract us from reality

[TaiShang]

Hyping up fears about Japan’s ‘militarism’ may distract us from reality
By Wang Zhanyang

There have been several incorrect methodologies in the approach to studying Japan, which is why some wrongly believe that Japan may resume militarism. It's important to eliminate such perceptions.

When observing Japan, a fact-based approach is needed and field trips to the country are ideal. Seeking truth from facts is the most fundamental methodology, but it's easier said than done.

Is there avoiding, covering and distorting in dealing with truth? Is there enough courage to face the facts that are different from mainstream views and to correct false opinions? Such reflection on and correctness of the methodology are helpful for us to better know the real Japan.

Direct contacts and experiences are also important. Those Chinese people living in Japan generally don't think that Japan will go down the path of militarism again. I've been a visiting scholar in Japan and share this opinion.

It's necessary to view Japan from a comprehensive perspective rather than only focusing on the country's negative elements; otherwise the seriousness of particular issues will be exaggerated.

In fact, there are strong and positive elements in Japan's domestic and foreign relations that prompt the country to follow a peaceful path. They play a dominant role.

Judgment has to be made based on the basic layout formed by history rather than on words and actions of a small group. Generally, history is shaped by the majority of population, but sometimes a minority. When the latter is the case, there must be some basic historical factors in place that enable the small population to play a decisive role.

Whether it's possible for a country to adopt militarism is decided by a series of basic social factors. For Japan these factors have fundamentally changed since the end of WWII.

Nowadays, factors like pacifism, democracy and rule of law, economic needs, short of fund, deployment of US troops and rise of China all make it impossible for Japan to resume militarism. The rejuvenation of militarism is just an outdated fantasy for a small group of people, which may cause serious consequences, but is not able to reverse the wider trend.

Japan's diplomacy and national defense should be analyzed through the lens of domestic policies. Simply observing its diplomatic and military moves brings much limitation and may easily lead to misunderstandings.

A country's domestic affairs decide its diplomacy and national defense. That's why Japan will not likely resume militarism.

Any undesirable tendency in its diplomacy and national defense will be constrained and finally corrected by powers within the country.

There should be a comprehensive understanding of Japan's internal affairs instead of just focusing on its political shifts. Otherwise there may be delusion that Japan's politicians can freely decide where the country's diplomacy and defense are heading.

With a democratic system, Japan's politics, diplomacy and defense are mainly decided by its economy, middle-class society and culture. Japanese leaders cannot act independently of these. As all these decisive factors are mostly pacifist, Japan is likely to stay on the path of peace.

While it's right to prepare for danger in times of peace, it's also necessary to avoid suffering from imaginary fears.

Peace and development remain the two mainstream trends of current times, but neither of them has been properly handled.

Until issues concerning maintaining peace are addressed, the risks of war will always exist and it's imperative to prepare for danger and modernize our national defense.

However, thinking too much about risks that won't happen will turn indispensable defense measures into troubles for ourselves and hence lead to faults in decision-making.

The international situation has to be viewed appropriately. We need to realize that rationally China doesn't face the risk of invasion and civilization is moving toward peace.

Only with such understanding and confidence can we avoid overreaction, and in particular a deviation from China's focus on economic development.

In this way we can deal with our domestic, foreign and defense affairs in a more proper and safer way.

The author is a professor at the Central Institute of Socialism. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn

Nihonjin1051 , your thoughts, sir?

 

[Kolaps]

It's not Japan who decided it.

All will depend on what USA say about it.

The author is kinda stupid.

 

[Aepsilons]

It's not Japan who decided it.

All will depend on what USA say about it.

The author is kinda stupid.

The author carries a doctoral degree and is an esteemed academe, i don't think the word 'stupid' should be used to describe him.

 

[Aepsilons]

There should be a comprehensive understanding of Japan's internal affairs instead of just focusing on its political shifts. Otherwise there may be delusion that Japan's politicians can freely decide where the country's diplomacy and defense are heading.
With a democratic system, Japan's politics, diplomacy and defense are mainly decided by its economy, middle-class society and culture. Japanese leaders cannot act independently of these. As all these decisive factors are mostly pacifist, Japan is likely to stay on the path of peace.

I'm glad to see that there are esteemed Chinese scholars who have a firm and comprehensive understanding of the reality, in context to the Japanese situation. As in most cases, academians and scholars usually have a better understanding of the situation in the ground due to their grasp of policies that have been studied and purveyed repetitiously. I welcome more and more scholars such as Dr. Wang to influence foreign policy directives in the Chinese Central Committee's Foreign Relations Wings.

I will only add that from my understanding of Japan's Directives and with the implementation of Collective Self Defense, Japan's role will be elevated in the global peace initiative. Specifically this means more Japanese land units (JGSDF, and JMSDF support) will take part in stabilizing war torn regions as well as greater contribution of JGSDF units into the United Nations Peace Keeping Force. This also means more Japanese activity in helping rebuild war torn regions through infrastructure development packages, intergovernmetnal cooperation with affected parties, and this may even include Japan's inclusion and housing of selected dispossessed refugees. It should be emphasized that from what we can interpret from official notes of the Japan MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) that Japan will aim to have a more pro-active role in maintaining peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific, IOR, and world. Stability is emphasized, not instability.

 

[Maxtini]

Of course nobody will believe Japan is heading to militarism. The Korean have been benign in reaction so far, and even the Chinese government knows that, But for the sake of opposing any countering military rise, the Chinese government need to play the hype of "Japan militarism"

 

[TaiShang]

Of course nobody will believe Japan is heading to militarism. The Korean have been benign in reaction so far, and even the Chinese government knows that, But for the sake of opposing any countering military rise, the Chinese government need to play the hype of "Japan militarism"

There is no foul play here. It is your own political considerations that blind your vision. Otherwise, you would have seen that the Chinese government does in fact favor a return to the status quo in China-Japan relations. By status quo, it means, pre-island crisis. Other than that, China has never been over reactive to Japan, although, its military and security establishment will provide feedback about possible changes and challenges. Every sane country does that; strategy-making is in fact thinking about the worst case scenario although, in most cases, the worst case scenario plays out rather rarely.

As in most cases, academians and scholars usually have a better understanding of the situation in the ground due to their grasp of policies that have been studied and purveyed repetitiously. I welcome more and more scholars such as Dr. Wang to influence foreign policy directives in the Chinese Central Committee's Foreign Relations Wings.

Like any other country, in China, too, there are a plethora of ideas, but, at the end of the day, national policy is carried out with extensive deliberations, and, usually, it is conservative and middle-way seeking. A country in the size of China can/will hardly make a radical change in the course of the very large ship called the state. I am encouraged, by the way, with the fact that, there has been a development of diplomatic discourse between China and Japan, recently. The two nations must focus on their strengths and avoid/freeze disagreements because, no matter what, geography and history will continue to "arrest" those two to one another.

 

[bolo]

Better to be prepared for possible conflict than get invaded. Japanese live on a volcanic island and need land for its people. China's huge land mass is what Japanese have been after for centuries. This Chinese author may have a doctoral degree but not in Chinese history.