August 15, 2006

Japanese Prime Minister Defies Asian Pressure

Hatched by Sachi

On Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Juichiro Koizumi paid his respects to the war dead of many different eras at a controversial Shinto shrine, Yasukuni Jinja. The controversy arises because the shrine was a symbol of imperial Japan; like Bitburg Cemetary in Germany, a great many Japanese soldiers are buried there... including some notorious war criminals:

TOKYO (AP) - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made a pilgrimage Tuesday to a Tokyo war shrine reviled by critics as a symbol of militarism, triggering a further erosion in Japan's ties with its neighbors just a month before he leaves office.

The impact of the visit to Yasukuni Shrine, Koizumi's sixth as prime minister, was heightened by its timing on Aug. 15, a date viewed with sadness in Japan as the anniversary of its World War II surrender, but celebrated as a day of liberation from Japanese colonial rule elsewhere in Asia.

The early morning pilgrimage prompted protests in China and South Korea, which suffered heavily under Japanese occupation [though not anywhere near as heavily as both suffered from Communist aggression in the 1950s and 60s]. The countries view the shrine, which honors war criminals among Japan's 2.5 million war dead, as a glorification of imperialism [as opposed to Tiananmen Square, which is a glorification of... oh, let's not go there].

As usual, China and South Korea are upset:

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun called on Japan to "prove it has no intention to repeat" its past aggression as his government summoned the Japanese ambassador to issue an official protest.

In Beijing, flag-waving protesters gathered outside the Japanese Embassy, as Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing condemned Koizumi for "obstinately" visiting the shrine. He also summoned Japan's ambassador to issue a protest.

Although it is not mentioned here, I am sure North Korea has something to say about that too. They usually do. It has become an article of faith for many Oriental people that Japan has never apologized or paid compensation for the aggression of the military dictatorship of the 30s and 40s, which was utterly destroyed in 1945.

Japan never "repented," they say; Japan has never abandoned the ambition to conquer Asia. Given an opportunity, it will rearm and start attacking its neighbors. This visit to Yasukuni shrine is just another slap in the face.

But considering the human-rights track record of Communist China and North Korea, they hardly have standing to accuse Japan of anything. And after the recent insulting behavior by South Korea at Takeshima (see A Rock And a Hard Peace, No Samurai Spirit Here!, and Wanted: Real Samurai!), I am not exactly filled with tears if their feelings were hurt.

But having said all that, their claim that Japan had never apologized is simply wrong. In fact over the years, Japanese leaders, including the current emperor, have apologized to the neighboring countries over and over again:

  • May 1990

    [South Korean President] Roh returned today from a three-day trip to Japan, during which Emperor Akihito expressed regret for the occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945. Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu of Japan extended ''honest apologies.''
  • November 1998

    Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi’s statement to visiting Chinese president Jiang Zeming:

    "Painfully feeling its responsibility for inflicting grave suffering and damage on the people of China by invading China at one period of history, the Japanese side expressed deep remorse for this," the declaration said.
  • April 2005

    Japan's prime minister apologized Friday for his country's World War II aggression in Asia in a bid to defuse tensions with regional rival China....

When Japan points out the facts to these countries, especially China and the two Koreans, they invariably shift from saying Japan has "never apologized" to saying the apology (which they never mentioned before) was not "sincere." Talk is cheap, they preach, and Japan needs to walk the walk: actions, not words!

But what do they mean by “actions,” I wonder? It is definitely not about the stupid shrine; the motive for making such a fuss is a lot more sinister. If you push them hard enough, they will tell you that Japan needs to compensate them for the destruction of 50-60 years ago. Japan has never done anything for China or Korea to show that Japan is really, really, really sorry.

That’s right. Compensation. Money. That’s what this is all about. But if you think Japan has never given them any compensation, think a second time.

Japan is one of the biggest donors of foreign financial aid in the world, second only to the United States, and has ben since the early 1980s. They call it Official Development Assistance (ODA); and the second largest beneficiary of this aid is none other than Red China.

September 2003 -- Asia Times:

Japan extended more than $1.22 billion in aid to China in 1999, making that nation the second-largest recipient of Japanese aid after Indonesia. In contrast with Indonesia, China is using loans actively to expand its presence in the world community.

But the panel, composed of economists and other academics, urged the government to rethink its ODA policy in light of the fact that China is spending a large amount to fortify its already powerful military.... Then-finance minister Masajuro Shiokawa said Japan plans to reduce ODA to China and other nations with nuclear weapons. "It makes no sense to extend assistance to a country that might attack Japan with atomic weapons," he said.

Is it possible current surge of Chinese anti-Japanese movement is somewhat related to the fact Japan is thinking of reducing ODA to China?

As for South Korea (from the Asia Times link above):

To promote peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, Japan should provide a comprehensive package of official development assistance that covers the entire peninsula, says Kim Young-ho, economist and former minister of commerce, industry and energy of South Korea. Japan should compile an official development assistance plan for the Korean Peninsula like the US Marshall Plan for Europe after World War II.

For those keeping score, the Marshall Plan (1947-1950) spent $13 billion... which would be equivalent to over $100 billion in 2005 dollars. (Say, if Japan creates a $100 billion development assistance plan for the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea -- can Japan have Takeshima Island back?)

In addition to all the above demands, Japan has already been sending humanitarian aid to the Stalinist hellhole of North Korea for many years. God only knows what they're doing with it.

These countries are engaged in simple extortion, nothing less. They know the Japanese people are fed up with paying for the sins of their remote ancestors -- and not even being thanked for doing so. Oriental countries are afraid that Japan will stop giving them money, since both Chinese and Korean governments teach their children little about Japan except how evil it is, and how it has never apologized or paid any compensation for the crimes of a previous regime that was annihilated by American forces and two nuclear bombs sixty-one years ago. The children are never told that most of their roads and bridges are built by Japanese reparations.

Japan has nothing left to apologize for. They have no obligation to keep paying these ungrateful global moochers. The prime minister of Japan should be able to pray for Japan's war dead whenever he pleases.

Japan is a free country, unlike two of the three regimes launching the criticism.

Hatched by Sachi on this day, August 15, 2006, at the time of 11:24 PM

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» Visiting Yasukuni--Here we go again... (UPDATED) from Asia Logistics Wrap
Ah, how fast a year goes by these days. [Read More]

Tracked on August 20, 2006 10:04 PM

» Speaking Ill of the Dead from Big Lizards
Yes, yes, I know: "De mortuis nil nisi bonum dicendum est" (do not speak ill of the dead). But why not? I say, go ahead and speak ill of the undeserving dead. Erstwhile South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun is dead.... [Read More]

Tracked on May 25, 2009 11:26 AM

Comments

The following hissed in response by: Bill Faith

I linked from Old War Dogs. I'm embarassed to admit that if I hadn't seen your post I'd have overlooked the significance of yesterday's date completely.

The above hissed in response by: Bill Faith [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 16, 2006 1:57 AM

The following hissed in response by: Terrye

My father was in the South Pacific at the end of WW2. He was going to be in the first wave if there was an invasion of Japan. Instead he ended up at Nagasaki five days after the bomb fell. For the rest of his life he felt ashamed of that bomb and grateful fro it all at the same time. From what little he would say about it I got the distinct impression that the Japanese paid in full.

The above hissed in response by: Terrye [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 16, 2006 3:48 AM

The following hissed in response by: Shawn Beilfuss

I am here in Tokyo, and have commented on the issue at my site. Basically, my opinion hasn't changed from last year.

Although Japan is free to do what it wants, if all Koizumi wants to do is pray for peace, he can do it at Hiroshima Peace Park--which in my opinion is much more appropriate. And if he is really as secure in himself as he implies, he loses nothing in the process.

The above hissed in response by: Shawn Beilfuss [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 16, 2006 9:02 AM

The following hissed in response by: FredTownWard

Sachi, you are partly right here, but also partly wrong. I, too, roll my eyes at the ritual denunciation of this political/religious ritual, the blatant hypocrisy of most of the critics of it, and the pure greed that forms at least a part of the motive for this stupidity. However, Japan DOES still have something to apologize for: the Godawful history education it provides its children about WWII that means they have to turn to other sources to even BEGIN to grasp the horrible brutality their ancestors inflicted.

I don't think the Japanese of today should be required to perform the "Full German", but I could really do without the "Nanjing Massacre? WHAT Nanjing Massacre?" or the hyperventilating about Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which if the truth be told, is probably the only reason said whiners' families SURVIVED WWII because if America had been required to take Japan's Home Islands at bayonet point, there wouldn't have been too many Japanese left after the shooting stopped!

The above hissed in response by: FredTownWard [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 16, 2006 1:31 PM

The following hissed in response by: Sachi

Shawn,

Yasukuni becomes an issue only because Japanese leftists make it an issue. China and South Korea are using it only because it is a convenient way to keep Japan off balance in order to secure more ODA funding or better trade contracts, or even to seize Japanese territory (Takeshima).

These countries want the upper hand when they negotiate with Japan. They think it is beneficial to keep Japan feeling guilty about the past. They want to keep Japan on the defensive. They know how the Japanese feel about Yasukuni, and that’s why they use it.

If not Yasukuni, it would be another wedge issue.

The above hissed in response by: Sachi [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 16, 2006 3:32 PM

The following hissed in response by: Sachi

Fred,

However, Japan DOES still have something to apologize for: the Godawful history education it provides its children about WWII that means they have to turn to other sources to even BEGIN to grasp the horrible brutality their ancestors inflicted....

I could really do without the "Nanjing Massacre? WHAT Nanjing Massacre?" or the hyperventilating about Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

I agree that Japan should teach its students the true history. When I talk with Japanese young people, I get the distinct impression that they think America dropped two atomic bombs onto a peaceful democratic country which was minding its own business.

You won’t get any argument from me if all you propose is to improve Japanese education. But that is something they can do domestically without apologizing to anyone.

Also, if China and South Korea can complain about Japanese textbooks, Japan should reserve the right to complain about the anti-Japanese alternative history found in those countries’ textbooks.

The above hissed in response by: Sachi [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 16, 2006 3:33 PM

The following hissed in response by: FredTownWard

You are correct, Sachi; I was NOT suggesting that Japan actually "apologize" to anyone for their Godawful history education. Just FIXING it would be "apology" enough, not because of what anyone else might THINK but because of what properly educated Japanese young people would then KNOW (though I suspect that SOME part of the irrational panic about Japan becoming imperialistic again is based on this educational embarrassment; after all one cannot claim to have LEARNED from history unless one has actually been TAUGHT history.)

I also won't even TRY to defend the hypocrisy of China and North Korea pointing out inaccuracies in OTHER PEOPLE'S history textbooks. I just don't know anthing about the state of South Korea's history textbooks. It wouldn't exactly surprise me to learn that they have some (or a lot of) anti-Japanese bias given their occasional idiotic anti-Japanese outbursts. But then again AMERICAN history textbooks are ALSO chock full of garbage, though it is mostly anti-AMERICAN bias.

The above hissed in response by: FredTownWard [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 16, 2006 5:22 PM

The following hissed in response by: Shawn Beilfuss

If China and South Korea plan to use other wedge issues if Yasukuni is off the table, let's see. Japan loses nothing by its Prime Minister not visiting. If China and South Korea don't change their tune, it can always go back visiting.

Japan knows it rubs China and South Korea the wrong way, and so that is part of it as well. I just want to know what the "value-added" is, as the PM of Japan (he can visit the place every day after he's out if he wants), in visiting Yasukuni? Your post doesn't address this.

Now, on the other hand, I am not asking Japan to apologize any more than it has. The South Korean obsession with Dok-do is ridiculous and Japan would have to tackle the ODA issue even without going to Yasukuni. Since it's FDI to China dwarfs its ODA contribution 6-to-1, which doesn't include any of the indirect benefits of that FDI, it can make an economic, rather than sophomorish political, rationalization for phasing out or eliminating ODA.

Even though I like Koizumi and his relationship with President Bush, whom I respect for strengthening the Japan-US relationship together with Koizumi, I hope the next PM (probably Abe) has more common sense, creativity, and diplomatic skill while maintaining an assertive Japan in the face of regional criticisms.

The above hissed in response by: Shawn Beilfuss [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 16, 2006 7:56 PM

The following hissed in response by: Sachi

Shawn,

Japan loses nothing by its Prime Minister not visiting.

Oh no Shawn, Japan loses big time. Japan loses its face. If you allow China and Korea to dictate Japanese domestic policy, Japan will be no longer be a sovereign nation.

The above hissed in response by: Sachi [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 16, 2006 11:29 PM

The following hissed in response by: Infidel

Japan has far more "WW2 Attrocity" deniers than Germany has Holocaust deniers.

AAMOF, current older members of Japanese culture pretty much revolve around it.

Interestingly, Japan has moved further from their fascist past than has Germany. In many respects one could say Germany 2006 is much like Germany 1930.

The above hissed in response by: Infidel [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 17, 2006 8:01 AM

The following hissed in response by: Shawn Beilfuss

By the "losing face" logic, South Korea shouldn't give up its claim on Dok-do/Takeshima because it would lose face. From the past responses on this blog in reference to Takeshima/Dok-do, I am pretty sure you wouldn't swallow the "losing face" argument for why South Korea should relinquish its Takeshima/Dok-do claim.

The risk of losing face doesn't necessarily make the action that leads to it the wrong decision.

The above hissed in response by: Shawn Beilfuss [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 19, 2006 11:36 PM

The following hissed in response by: Sachi

Shawn,

South Korea does not have to give up Takeshima. All they have to do is to agree to bring the issue to the world court. That way, a neutral body can decide which country owns the island.

No one has to lose his face.

The above hissed in response by: Sachi [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 20, 2006 3:48 AM

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