[list_indonesia] [ppiindia] The 5-Minute Briefing: What's behind the spat between China and Japan?

** Mailing-List Indonesia Nasional Milis PPI-India www.ppi-india.da.ru **

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/story.jsp?story=629162

The 5-Minute Briefing: What's behind the spat between China and Japan?
14 April 2005 


Relations between China and Japan have sunk to their lowest point in 30 years. 
Why? 

The immediate cause is Japan's decision to authorise secondary school textbooks 
that gloss over what China considers its darkest hour: the Japanese Imperial 
Army's 15-year rampage through the country from 1933 to 1945. The most 
controversial history textbook, written by neo-nationalist scholars, suggests 
China was to blame for its own subjugation for rebuffing Japan's attempts to 
deal with the country "in a spirit of co-operation". References to infamous war 
crimes, notably Unit 731, a germ-warfare unit that conducted experiments on 
live prisoners, and the 1937 Nanking massacre, when up to 300,000 civilians 
were slaughtered, have been removed or played down.

So the Chinese have every right to be angry?

Yes, but there is more. China makes much less fuss about other historical 
enemies, including the British, who fought two wars to supply opium to the 
country, or the US, who for years bankrolled the nationalists against the 
communists. Tokyo believes Beijing is whipping up anti-Japanese sentiment to 
deny it a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. And hypocrisy looms large: 
Chinese students learn little of the invasion of Tibet or the crimes of 
Chairman Mao. In the background, the tectonic plates of Asian politics are 
shifting to accommodate the growing economic bulk of an increasingly confident 
and assertive China, which some in Japan view with alarm. The Trade Minister, 
Shoichi Nakagawa, called China "a scary country".

What's at stake here?

China and Japan are one of the world's most important bilateral trade 
relationships. Japanese businesses have billions invested in the world's 
fastest-growing economy, which overtook the US last year to become Japan's 
biggest trading partner. China needs Japanese capital and know-how and Japanese 
manufacturers depend on cheap Chinese labour. Hot in economics, cold in 
politics is the phrase used in Japan, and the hope is that this booming trade 
will trump the present tensions. But some fear the heady brew of history, 
nationalism and politics that hangs above relations between these two old 
enemies like a pall will eventually drag them into further confrontation.

Anything else we should be worried about?

An internet-led boycott of Japanese goods is picking up speed in China, where 
anti-Japanese feeling is high following decades of patriotic education. And 
anti-Chinese sentiment is hardening in Japan, which is to terminate aid to 
China after providing billions of dollars over the past two decades. China is 
suspicious of the military alliance between America and Japan and is arming 
itself at a furious rate. And Japanese hawks are pushing for a more assertive 
role for Tokyo to counter this threat.

David McNeill 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> 
Give the gift of life to a sick child. 
Support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's 'Thanks & Giving.'
http://us.click.yahoo.com/lGEjbB/6WnJAA/E2hLAA/BRUplB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 

***************************************************************************
Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. Menuju Indonesia yg 
Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny. www.ppi-india.org
***************************************************************************
__________________________________________________________________________
Mohon Perhatian:

1. Harap tdk. memposting/reply yg menyinggung SARA (kecuali sbg otokritik)
2. Pesan yg akan direply harap dihapus, kecuali yg akan dikomentari.
3. Lihat arsip sebelumnya, www.ppi-india.da.ru; 
4. Satu email perhari: ppiindia-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
5. No-email/web only: ppiindia-nomail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
6. kembali menerima email: ppiindia-normal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    ppiindia-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 



** Mailing-List Indonesia Nasional Milis PPI-India www.ppi-india.uni.cc **

Other related posts: