Enigma of Japanese Power - Essay Example

Enigma of Japanese Power Introduction A closer outlook into this book indicates that, the story is an irreverent and a harsh description of the Japanese cultural, societal, and political system. Written by a Dutch journalist who stayed in this country for over 20 years, “The Enigma of Japanese Power” has chapters like the “Elusive State”, “The problem Japan”, and “The System as Religion” (Wittkugle, 2007:40). According to how Van Wolferen views Japan, this country is in no state of controlling its economic structure. In fact, Van argues that Japan is more of a “protectionist economy” and its leadership is manipulative. Particularly, the book describes the country’s foreign policy under the guidance of the Democratic Party of Japan (Thornton, 2002:66). There are expressed concerns regarding the military built up by China supported by the Democratic Party of Japan and a security alliance, which finds it hard to pursue an East Asian community without a US role. Faced by the Chinese hegemony, this paper will seek to discuss ways in which Japan can use to counter Chinese influence and maintain the diplomatic relations with the PRC in policy. Create a security structure in Asia that can control with a rise of Chinas power Ideally, it is understandable that the Asian countries are growing stronger and more equipped day after another (Nye, 2004:63). This economic, social, military, and political growth is giving the western countries and some of other Asian nations a hard time comprehending what exactly are spearheading this development (Cooney, 2002:13). Japan, for instance, has continued to enjoy sustainable political governance under the control of the Japan Democratic Party, a factor that is leading to improved economic growth. As of today, China is the most influential country within the Asian belt. In terms of military equipment and personnel, China ranks highest as it has an all-encompassing system of security system powered by internal government support (Hagstrom, 2005:87). Agreeably, it has a huge influence over the other Asian countries and it is even stretching her influence towards the western countries (Christop, 2006:54). Economic wise, China leads the region with her products available in all corners of the globe. Compared to Japan, China is indeed the giant of Asia and as a result, its rise and intensification in power may threaten the Asian continent growth including that of Japan and Korea (Cooney, 2002:26). Studies indicate that, for Japan to counter the influence portrayed by China over the Asian countries, it must be smart and come up with systems, platforms, and strategic plans capable of either matching China’s economic and military growth or surpass its development (Alterman and Garver, 2008:67). Among these projects is specifically the pertinent creation of a security structure in Asia that can control with a rise of Chinas power. The Society for Japanese Studies maintain that, for Japan to achieve the goal of controlling China’s growing influence over the Asian nations, it must resolve to create a security system that has greater control over the rising Chinese power (Thornton, 2002:85). Japan can do so by seeking the support of other Asian countries or create the system internally. Believably, the former would work easier given the fact that Korea has expressed concerns over China’s military unification and economic dominance over the Asian continent and even over other potential markets like Africa (Hagstrom, 2005:109). Thus, it would be unproblematic for Korea to join Japan in her quest for controlling the rising Chinese power. Nevertheless, it is should is important to conform that, as Japan seeks to create a security structure in Asia that can control Chinas rise in power, it must ensure that it maintains the diplomatic relations with the PRC in policy (Cooney, 2002:44). To do that, Japan must try as much as it can to avoid going against the stipulated policies of the PRC. Generally, Japan with the help of other Asian nations can achieve the creation of a security structure in Asia that can control with a rise of Chinas power without violating the diplomatic relations with the PRC in policy (Christop, 2006:88). The restoration of harmony, gradually reduce the presence of U.S. forces, responsible for self-defence For quiet sometime, these Asian countries have had a share of their bitter taste through a series of waging wars conflicts between themselves. As such, tensions have been a common phenomenon between and among these nations. For example, China and North Korea have the largest amounts of military personnel within the region (Hagstrom, 2005:122). With North Korea maintaining a total of 1.3 million soldiers, 15,000 fighting crafts, and some hundreds of submarines as well as various nuclear manufacturing power plants, China has always found this military intensification among the Koreans as a threat to her dominance (Cooney, 2007:50). Japan on the other end has a strong and coherent domestic “economic, social, military” stringency, which makes it hard for not only the fellow Asian countries to try any attack, but also scares the western countries (Alterman and Garver, 2008:89). Profoundly, these military tensions and domestic issues between and amongst these countries act as a challenge or a barrier towards attaining a peaceful, quiet, tolerable Asian bloc (Cooney, 2002:60). It would uncomplicated for Japan to control the rising China’s power without breaching any of the stipulated policies by the PRC policy if it resolved to uplift the restoration of harmony, gradual reduction of the presence of U.S. forces, and become responsible for self-defence (Thornton, 2002:92). Japan can hold diplomatic sessions with either China only or with the rest of the Asian countries and talk these tensions out. It is easier to resolve to harmonious means of controlling China’s rise in power than pushing on with the situation yet there are other countries, which feel threatened by China’s power intensification (Christop, 2006:105). Additionally, Japan can also try to find a solution to China’s rise in power problem by gradually reducing the presence of U.S. forces within these countries. Essentially, the presence of the US soldiers within these countries plays a major role in maintaining peace and tranquillity between and among these Asian blocs (Alterman and Garver, 2008:100). Nonetheless, there are other countries like Japan that would benefit a lot if these US forces can cease their presence within either Japanese or Chinese soils. It would be hard for the United States to agree to remove her peacekeeping forces out of China or Japan if she is aware that such a country is unable to maintain peace on her own (Hagstrom, 2005:140). By asking for withdrawal of the US forces in these countries, should not mean that Japan is planning to wage war against China’s rise in power but should rather signal that these countries have become politically and militarily peaceful and are therefore able to defend their territorial boundaries (Gaddis, 2004:49). Developing relations of mutual trust with China, South Korea, and other Asian nations Apart from enacting the other strategies, Japan can as well incorporate other measures, which have the capacity to ensure harmony, peace, and tranquility with China and the rest of the Asian states (Nye, 2004:90). Succulently, faced by the Chinese hegemony, Japan can counter Chinese influence and maintain diplomatic relations with PRC in policy by developing relations of mutual trust with China, South Korea, and other Asian nations (Cooney, 2002:93). Currently, the territorial relationship shared between and among Japan, South Korea, and China is not that much promising, not in terms of economic growth or in terms of political stability (Jackson, 2005:78). As a result, if Japan needs to control the China’s rise in power without crisscrossing the stipulations laid upon by the PRC policy, it must start to establish mutual relations with China. Despite the idea that this aspect might sound easier, it is believable that it might not turn out as simple as expected since the role of South Korea in this peace pact must be available (Hagstrom, 2005:155). Definitely, creating a platform that shows the transparency of these countries in their dealings ranging from military unification to economic development to social and political integration is pragmatic (Alterman and Garver, 2008:119). If these countries can manage to live with each other without suspicion or hidden motives, it is possible to maintain a peaceful co-existence between and among themselves without any cases of wary hence attain not only economic, political, and social progression, but also supremacy in the world. Research findings reveal that the Asian countries have a rich history in waging wars against each other purposely due to cases related to dominance and economic power (Thornton, 2002:101). Currently, South Korea is in a peace pact with the North Korea over the occupational territories within Korea. Taiwan and China have had a series of conflicts over the occupation of the Taiwanese Island. These and many other conflicts deter peace and stability within the Asian continent (Hagstrom, 2005:168). Absolutely, developing relations of mutual trust with China, South Korea, and other Asian nations would help in achieving the goal of countering the Chinese influence and maintenance of the diplomatic relations with the PRC in policy (Cooney, 2002:145). Undoubtedly, if China continues to intensify her military and security system more than it has now, chances are it will increase her dominance over the other Asian nations, a move that may end up sparking an upsurge of war hence affecting other bordering continents. Therefore, the only way that Japan can use to ensure control over the issue and counter Chinese influence and maintain the diplomatic relations with the PRC in policy at the same, is to develop mutual relations and trust with China. Moreover, after that, Japan can go ahead to establish trustworthy relations with South Korea which would in turn earn her support of the other Asian nations (Christop, 2006:151). Easing tensions with China and Korea by creating a secular national cemetery As discussed, many Asian countries have had a series of conflicts over a number of issues, which have left these nations tense for along time. Japan, for example, is one of those countries which suppressed by China’s rise in power and dominance over the economic compass (Cooney, 2002:169). South Korea feels dominated and subjugated to harsh conditions by the North Korea over political, territorial, and economic issues (Jackson, 2005:108). Consequently, any move or strategy that can ensure these countries come to a mutual agreement that clarifies and states their end of tensions can indeed save the world a great deal of economic loss. These countries have huge potential of manufacturing, processing, and assembling of different products (Cooney, 2007:81). However, they are unable to bring their talents, professional expertise, and skills together mainly because of issues related to their misunderstandings. What observations make of these countries is that, if there can be any stratagem that can help ease Japan’s tensions with China and Korea, things would be better for every nation involved. Substantially, creation of a secular national cemetery within these nations can facilitate easing of these tensions hence realize a conflict free continent (Hagstrom, 2005:181). Overemphasizing the bilateral security relationship with the United States Some Asian countries have expressed concerns over China’s military built up, the Democratic Party of Japan support and security alliance that sought not to pursue an East Asian community that has no US role (Gaddis, 2004:84). Overly, it would be hard for the Asian countries to form an East Asian community that excludes a US role. This is so because, the kind of peace and, to some extent, economic growth that these countries enjoy today comes from the US (Thornton, 2002:113). The US is capable of loaning or financing projects carried out in these nations unlike other countries, which do not have that financial capacity to offer support for anything in these countries. Hence, it would be unreasonable for Japan to support an alliance or the formation of an East Asia community that excludes the US role in its operations. Accordingly, faced by the Chinese hegemony, the only sure way that can help Japan counter the Chinese influence and maintain the diplomatic relations with the PRC in policy is by overemphasizing the selective bilateral security relationship not only with the United States but also with other nations seemingly considerable (Hagstrom, 2005:233). Conclusion In conclusion, for Japan and the rest of the Asian countries to realize insurmountable economic growth, political stability, military unification among all countries is by first creating a security structure in Asia that can control with a rise of Chinas power (Alterman and Garver, 2008:130). Secondly, the restoration of harmony, gradual reduction of the presence of U.S. forces, and responsible for self-defense is yet another measure that can help Japan counter the Chinese influence. Furthermore, developing mutual with China and building trust with South Korea and Asia as a whole as well as easing tension with China and Korea by creating a secular national cemetery are also significant strategies capable of achieving this goal (Cooney, 2002:201). Finally, Japan can simply overemphasize on creating a bilateral security relationship with considerable countries like the United States. Bibliography Alterman, J. B. and Garver, J. W. 2008. The vital triangle: China, the United States, and the Middle East. Washington, D.C.: CSIS Press. Christop, H. 2006. Chinese Nationalism In A Global Era. London: Routledge. Cooney, K. 2002. Japans Foreign Policy Maturation: A Quest for Normalcy. London: Routledge. Cooney, K. J. 2007. Japans foreign policy since 1945. Armonk, NY: Sharpe. Gaddis, J. L. 2004. Surprise, security, and the American experience. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Hagstrom, L. 2005. Japans China Policy: A Relational Power Analysis. London: Routledge. Jackson, R. 2005. Writing the war on terrorism: language, politics and counter-terrorism. Manchester: Manchester University Press. Nye, J. S. 2004. Soft power: the means to success in world politics. New York: Public Affairs. Thornton, W. H. 2002. Fire on the rim: the cultural dynamics of East/West power politics. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield. Wittkugle, C. 2007. Hegemony. New York: Lulu.com. Read More