Sept. 18 - Eighty-one years have passed since the Japanese
invasion of China's northeast. But now, it is time for Japan to drop
its sense of superiority regarding China and Asia in general.
Japan has to recognize that China is no longer weak and poor as it
was in the 1930s, when it suffered great disasters brought by Japanese
militarism. The balance of power between the two countries has
drastically changed.
Sept. 18, 1931 is a day of disgrace in Chinese history, as it marks
the day Japan launched an invasion of China's northeast and occupied the
whole region four months later. The incident was followed by Japan's
invasion of Pacific Asia in 1941, leading to one of the greatest
disasters in the region.
The anniversary this year is quite different from before, as it coincides with Japan's "purchase" of part of the Diaoyu Islands, triggering fierce anti-Japan sentiment in China.
Japan's arrogance and provocation regarding the Diaoyu Islands is in
line with its complex formed over one century ago, when it proclaimed
superiority over China and Asia.
The two countries became rivals over the last 500 years, with Japan
catching up with and defeating China in the late 19th century. Even its
defeat in World War II could not break its sense of superiority, as
Japan considered China's victory to be a present from the United States and the Soviet Union, turning a blind eye to the Chinese people's heroic resistance.
Japan has been heavily influenced by China and learned a great deal
from Chinese culture. China enjoyed comprehensive superiority over its
neighbor in all fields, including military strength, at that time.
However, China experienced decline since the late Qing Dynasty
(1644-1911), while Japan rose as a world power in the late 1860's, when
the country completely reformed its political and social structure by
using European powers as models.
During the Meiji Restoration, Japan adopted a policy of breaking away
from Asia and merging with Europe. It viewed China at that time as an
antiquated and decaying country.
Its fear of China died with Japan's overwhelming victory in the First
Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895). The defeat also obliterated China's
first attempt to modernize.
Japan subsequently established its superiority over China, both in
actual strength and in mentality, as it no longer viewed China as a
teacher.
During its expansion, Japan forced China to cede Taiwan in 1895 and
annexed the Korean Peninsula in 1910. In the early 1940s, Japanese
aggression saw little resistance in Asia and reached its peak after the
attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941.
Japanese militarists called for a "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity
Sphere" in the 1930s, attempting to create a bloc led by the Japanese
and free of Western powers.
Although Japanese militarists and war criminals' pipe dreams ended
with the country's unconditional surrender to Allied powers, Japan's
sense of superiority continued due to the U.S. desire to contain the
Soviet Union and China.
But 60 years after World War II, the situation has completely
changed. China has maintained rapid economic development and in 2010
surpassed Japan to become the world's second-largest economy. The
strength of China's national defense has grown accordingly.
Japan is now suffering from a long-term economic downturn, along with an aging population.
China's rise has touched the nerves of some Japanese, who have
resorted to tricks to disturb China's peaceful development. This may be
the cause of the tension experienced after a short friendly period in
the 1980s.
The present China is not the same as the China of years past. Japan
should face the situation, drop its obsolete sense of superiority and
take a constructive attitude to solve disputes.
This is the only way to achieve common development in both countries and Asia as a whole.
By Xinhua writer Ren Ke
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Showing posts with label First Sino-Japanese War. Show all posts
Showing posts with label First Sino-Japanese War. Show all posts
Wednesday 19 September 2012
Japan should drop its sense of superiority and tricks over China, Asia
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