Japan and Its Neighbors
Japan, China, and North Korea have a strong history that makes dealing with the present and future very difficult. All three countries have close geographic proximity to one another, but have very different cultures, governments, and histories. After World War II (WWII) and the Allied Occupation, Japan's constitution includes Article Nine, which states, "the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes." Many people felt that this clause would bring an end to the ongoing struggle in the region, and that Japan would fall to the wayside as an international power. Also, because the historical dealings that Japan had with China and North Korea, mainly had negative outcomes because of the Japanese military, it would be easy to assume the three nations could resolve conflicts more easily now. On the contrary though, history is still an argument used each time China and North Korea have any diplomatic involvement with Japan. Now there is talk of amending Article Nine and allowing the Japanese to rebuild a military, but with its neighboring countries so close, and still so bitter about the past Japan will not be able to have its o
The Japanese government has to decide if it can afford to be seen as a country that needs another countries military to defend it, or as a country that can not only be an economic powerhouse, but a military one as well. Domestically and economically Japan could build a military with little hesitation. Japan is the player with the last card to play and the final decision is one only Japan can make, but the factors of the decision have international implications whose effects may not be known until it is too late to change the decision. Before Japan was seen as a militaristic country, and obviously that is not the normal view of Japan today, but many critics are concerned it will not take long for Japan to revert. There will have to be consensus among those in charge of exactly how to choose personnel, where and how to train, and most importantly keep enough information flowing to the international community as so not to build suspicion. Japan's remilitarization process will not be fastidious, and abrupt. The Geographic Problem It is approximately 1300 miles from Beijing to Tokyo, and only about 730 miles from North Korea to Tokyo. The difference in cost would probably be the decisive factor that the US would use to make its decision. Ignoring the fact that the US military may not have the strength to defend two of the world's most powerful countries simultaneously, the US gains a lot of ground because of its position as defender of Japan. These tensions led to the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, in which Korea was annexed by Japan after another war with Russia in 1910. The US would also be criticized for supporting Japan's remilitarization, and would have to find its own reasons to agree with the change. Already shaky relations between Japan and China and Japan and North Korea will play a huge part in Japan's decision. These costs are not just monetary, but also economic and political. Not only is the geographic local a national defense problem, but it also causes Japan to have to prove its strength, economically to stay on top and not seem week enough to be taken over. It is over 2300 miles from the east coast of the United States to the west coast.
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