Newsletter No. 24
June 24, 2005

 

The following article has just appeared in Malaysiakini, a news site that describes itself as “the leading source of independent news and views on Malaysia.” This piece is perhaps a little too paranoid and simplistic to be accepted in its entirety, but it makes several useful points from a Japan-skeptical point of view. Indeed, I have heard some voices on the Japanese left who have themselves made similar arguments. Clearly, Japan would do well to act in a manner that would avoid the spread of this kind of opinion in the Islamic world.

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JAPAN’S GEO-STRATEGY MAY BACKFIRE
By Patrick Chua

I agree with Arbibi Ashoy that fascist elements in Japan are growing stronger not unlike the country’s pattern of behaviour in the 1930s.

Although Japan may argue that it has merely sent non-combat troops to Iraq to help reconstruction there, the very fact that it has sent troops out of the country is an indication of its strategic intention of attempting to use armed forces to participate more actively in international politics.

If Japan is only interested in helping in Iraq’s reconstruction, why does it not send its Red Cross and other civilian groups? Of course, Iraq is not the only place outside Japan where Japanese troops have ‘visited’ recently. In the aftermath of the tsunami disaster, it also sent troops to Aceh. Japan’s peace-keeping force was also in Cambodia in the early 1990s.

Japanese troops may not be used for combat, but what about the future when they have gained enough confidence to be positioned outside Japan and when they have familiarised with the terrains and climates of foreign countries?

Seen in this light, we may reasonably argue that Japanese troops are preparing themselves for more active roles in the future. This is dangerous for two major reasons:

One, as Japan is surrounded geographically by its former enemies and victims like Russia, North Korea, South Korea and China which have become relatively more powerful, it may be compelled by its geopolitical dilemma to seek control and domination over Southeast Asia where weaker countries are located.

Two, as Japan lacks natural resources and now has to economically compete with an increasingly number of countries such as China and India, it may be compelled to seek cheaper and a more secure supply of natural resources from weaker countries in Southeast Asia.

An added impetus for it would be that these Southeast Asian countries are located along strategic sea lanes linking the Indian Ocean on one hand and the South China Sea on the other.

Japan, however, knows that by itself, it cannot seek this control and domination. It has decided to pit the US against Russia, China, South Korea and North Korea so that the US is frightened into allowing it a greater degree of militarisation within the US-Japan alliance.

It has also decided, for the moment, to be (or pretend to be) a loyal and blind supporter of the US’ military adventurism in the Islamic world in order for its (Japan’s) troops to gain overseas experience and familiarity with foreign climates and terrains.

However, Japan may also have miscalculated in its new geo-strategy in a potentially fatal manner. With the US facing increasingly hostile public reactions in the European, Third and Islamic worlds, Japan’s almost blind support for the former’s global military adventurism may backfire.

Instead of getting stronger and more respectable by closely associating with the US, Japan may finally find itself becoming another target of revulsion in the European, Third and Islamic worlds.

Meanwhile, its relations with its immediate neighbours like Russia, China, South Korea and North Korea will continue to be bitter and acrimonious due to border disputes, economic competition and, above all, its refusal to face up to its World War II history.