If you get the chance, make sure you check out Christopher Lingle’s May 1 column in the Japan Times, “China lacks sincerity in seeking apologies.” I raises a lot of the same issues that I have tried, perhaps unsuccessfully, to raise in previous posts. In particular, he points out the hypocrisy of a nation that’s rather renowned for denouncing interference in its own internal affairs interfering in Japan’s domestic affairs, and the irony of a party that has yet to apologize for the Great Leap Forward, Cultural Revolution and Tienanmen Square demanding an apology for Japan’s imperial past. He also discusses some of the complex issues involved in the “politics of apology” in both China and Japan. Here’s some of it:
Politically, constraints of domestic politics in Japan and China shape their respective positions. Much of the posturing reflects political performances for domestic consumption and manipulation of relationships with other national politicians rather than calculated moves in bilateral relationships.
Chinese nationalism is served by constructing and perpetuating an image of an historical affront to national dignity that portrays China’s people as innocent victims. In turn, the regime in Beijing gains credibility by being a protector from an exaggerated threat.
The complex mixture of political opportunism and cultural input make a clear reading of the Chinese position on the American and Japanese apologies very difficult. The Chinese should learn that demands for sincere apologies require that they behave with greater sincerity in seeking and accepting them.
Read the rest on your own.
4 Comments
I don’t know, Marmot…don’t you think that the families of the 16 million Chinese people that died as a direct result of Japanese aggression in China in the 1930s and 40s deserve an apology from Japan? I’m not sure about you, but I think so. I understand the point that the Chinese govt. has issues of its own in asking for the apology, but if the Chinese Govt. doesn’t ask for it, then who should do so on behalf of the families? I understand this blog message serves also as an attack on the Chinese govt. (okay, it’s big and slow-moving target!) but remember: They’re not SO bloody-minded and evil that that keeps certain (uh-hmm) nations from running multiple billion-dollar trade-deficits with the “Communist”-run govt…something to ponder? Maybe not. Anyway, I think that if it was MY (or maybe YOUR) family members had their heads chopped off by two Japanese infantry lieutenants who were involved in a contest to see how many civillian’s heads they could cut off with their fucking samurai swords maybe I (or even you) would want an apology, too!
The Chinese government is not sincere? No shit. That is not a hard one to pick. Well, gang, here is a question for you all: is the Japanese government sincere? Hmmm. Tricky. (Sarcasm off)
Japan pretends to be democracy. It is not. Japan likes to help other countries. Only so others will think that it to be altruistic. There is no notion in Japan of ANY guilt for Japanese actions this century. They only feel shame that they lost their little expansion bid. I read that somewhere but I agree. Shame and guilt are very different.
OK. So China is a big nasty. So why are we all trading with it? And Japan? One of the most insincere places on the planet.
Mao killed 60 million people and now he is hero.
Mao is a hero? Where are you getting your information Mr Munch?
PING:
TITLE: Asia by blog
BLOG NAME: Simon World
Yesterday’s Asia by blog has proved a resounding success, if the sole email I got in reply is anything to go by. Durian Nation got the idea. Link back to here or leave a comment if you think there are other posts or blogs that should be going into this…
PING:
TITLE: Asia by blog
BLOG NAME: Simon World
Yesterday’s Asia by blog has proved a resounding success, if the sole email I got in reply is anything to go by. Durian Nation got the idea. Link back to here or leave a comment if you think there are other posts or blogs that should be going into this…