Japan's Defense
Header Picture Courtesy to New York Times
Although Koreans and Chinese demanded Japan to pay for the result of their expansion, the task of just apologizing and acknowledging their atrocities bear a much heavier weight to Japan than what most people think. When the war ended, the Japanese government and public steered their country away a militaristic path. The country was completely reformed. Many politicians and citizens alike believed that they have apologized enough and future apologies will never be sufficient to the eyes of the Korean and the Chinese. Western critics argued that Japan should follow the German example towards a settlement but the geopolitical conditions of the two country strongly contrast each other. Japan also provided a vast amount of financial aid and compensation to the Korean and Chinese government.
Japan, upon a new government, believes that their apologies and compensations are already sufficient. On August 2015, Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan, states: “We must not let our children, grandchildren, and even further generations to come, who have nothing to do with the war, be predestined to apologise.”[1] Imagine your great grandfather had killed someone and the victim’s family demanded compensation from you. You wouldn’t want to pay for a crime you did not personally do. There is also the matter of the new government already compensating for the former government, but Japan believes their present government is very different from their past counterpart. The actions of the Japanese Empire were carried out before the new Constitution was drafted. |
While both Western and Asian critics suggested Japan to follow the German example of settling the issue, we must keep in mind their differences. Germany was occupied by multiple countries (both communism and capitalist ideologies), and therefore they are more free to negotiate with their neighbors. Japan was solely under the American influence and it was tougher to reach a condition with Communist China and a divided Korea. As for a neighbor of Germany, France needed an ally to become a superpower again. Thus, the Franco-German relationship developed through France’s goodwill. Japan did not enjoy the same relationship as Asia was torn apart ideologically by the Cold War. Europe was at peace after the Cold War, allowing Germany to become more friendly with its neighbor. The end of the Cold War in Asia meant nothing as China and multiple countries were ruled by military regimes. Also, as the competition between China and the United States grew, Japan needs to show hostility to China in able to prove loyalty to the United States. The differences resulted from geological differences made the argument that “Japan should follow Germany’s example” more complicated that what critics may think.
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In 1995, Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama gave a famous apology to the victims of Japan’s aggression. Murayama’s government launched the Peace, Friendship and Exchange Initiative which supported “historical research into relations in the modern era” between Japan and its neighboring countries and rapid expansion of exchanges between those countries.”[2] Despite his deep condolences, China and Korea still would not back down from demanding for their apologies. This may due to the current Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s controversial actions. Although Abe apologized for the war crimes, his visit to the Yasukuni war shrine in 2013 made his apology less trustworthy. His speech was vague in some areas, for example, he did not address whether the actions leading to war were defensive or aggressive. Additionally, the Right Wing wants Abe to move away from being apologetic and restore “Japan’s pride”. Many Japanese shared the same view as they believed that one leader’s failure does not mean that the whole community is guilty. Government officials often ask why they need to apologize again when they have been doing so for decades. They admitted that Japan was responsible for the war, but they argued that China continued this issue for their diplomatic advantage as well. For example, they brought up the ‘history card’ while disputing claims with Japan on the Diaoyu Islands. It might not be Japan’s entire fault that a settlement had not been reached.
Sources
[1]https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/14/shinzo-abe-japan-no-new-apology-second-world-war-anniversary-speech
[2]"Statement by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama 'On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the war's end' (15 August 1995)." http://www.mofa.go.jp/
announce/press/pm/murayama/9508.html.
[2]"Statement by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama 'On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the war's end' (15 August 1995)." http://www.mofa.go.jp/
announce/press/pm/murayama/9508.html.