Incidentally, if the sustained opposition of the people of Okinawa is one of the reasons for American decision to shift a part of the base to the island of Guam, the other reason is invariably to keep a closer eye on the overambitious Chinese Navy. But the US plan to piggyback on Japan through the creation of ballistic missile defence system in Japan and base realignment seems to be facing more resistance than America estimated. It is now clear that Japan does not consider China as a much a threat as US would want to. Not only is the newly elected regime interested in reviewing all the deals, it is also going ahead with its plan to create something called the East Asian Community, a group which would include China too. This no doubt is a real shocker for a beleaguered US already reeling under the burden of Afghanistan, Iraq and recession. And already, there are plans afoot for a joint Sino-Japanese military exercise, proof enough of the shape of things to come. Even Obama’s recent visit in Japan was not enough to thwart that from happening.
To a large extent, the US itself is to blame. American officials and government representatives have in the past taken for granted Japanese acquiescence to such an extent as to almost humiliate Japan. In fact, a weekly column by Gordon C. Chang in Forbes two months ago was titled Humiliating Japan, and covered the various instances where America has slighted and belittled Japanese representatives to such an extent as to be shocking. In one instance, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, while visiting Japan in October 2009, embarrassed the Hatoyama government by publicly commenting that the Japanese proposal to reconsider the past agreement was “immensely complicated and counterproductive.” Gates proceeded to tell Japan in flat terms that it was time to “move on.”
Hatoyoma is no spring chicken, and the Obama administration is ruing that fact to no ends. The DPJ led Hatoyoma, with the backing of a nation – if Okinawa residents’ sentiments were any evidence – is intent on giving America a deserving payback with interest! While all this might sound wonderful to the galleries, and even to traditional America baiters, what is most unfortunate in this issue is that China, ergo, could well emerge as the key force in the currently unipolar world.
To that extent, Obama holds amazing promise. If he has managed to start engaging the likes of Iran, then Japan is purely an Enid Blyton flick. If patriotism needs proof, a glance at Japanese resurgence post World War II should be enough to fill the file. All it would take for America is to ensure that its key representatives understand that the Japanese are extremely critical about respect – individual, family, national. A resurgent Japan with a new government, an independent foreign policy and an urge to unshackle itself from the remaining US clutches can any day be a force to reckon with, especially if misguided by Chinese aspirations and back door politicking. Obama’s representatives have to realise, Japan is no Iran!
To a large extent, the US itself is to blame. American officials and government representatives have in the past taken for granted Japanese acquiescence to such an extent as to almost humiliate Japan. In fact, a weekly column by Gordon C. Chang in Forbes two months ago was titled Humiliating Japan, and covered the various instances where America has slighted and belittled Japanese representatives to such an extent as to be shocking. In one instance, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, while visiting Japan in October 2009, embarrassed the Hatoyama government by publicly commenting that the Japanese proposal to reconsider the past agreement was “immensely complicated and counterproductive.” Gates proceeded to tell Japan in flat terms that it was time to “move on.”
Hatoyoma is no spring chicken, and the Obama administration is ruing that fact to no ends. The DPJ led Hatoyoma, with the backing of a nation – if Okinawa residents’ sentiments were any evidence – is intent on giving America a deserving payback with interest! While all this might sound wonderful to the galleries, and even to traditional America baiters, what is most unfortunate in this issue is that China, ergo, could well emerge as the key force in the currently unipolar world.
To that extent, Obama holds amazing promise. If he has managed to start engaging the likes of Iran, then Japan is purely an Enid Blyton flick. If patriotism needs proof, a glance at Japanese resurgence post World War II should be enough to fill the file. All it would take for America is to ensure that its key representatives understand that the Japanese are extremely critical about respect – individual, family, national. A resurgent Japan with a new government, an independent foreign policy and an urge to unshackle itself from the remaining US clutches can any day be a force to reckon with, especially if misguided by Chinese aspirations and back door politicking. Obama’s representatives have to realise, Japan is no Iran!
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