Japan鈥檚 growing attachment to China over the US
Day after day, China鈥檚 heavyweight status becomes more pronounced. We鈥檝e discussed it before, due to its economy, which is in the process of and its . Today, we take a look at its strengthening influence in Asia鈥� and Japan in particular.
According to the Financial Times:
鈥淟ast year, the Japanese economy shrank by more than 5 per cent. And the high hopes that surrounded the reformist government of Yukio Hatoyama, the prime minister who was elected last summer, have quickly dissipated. Mr Hatoyama鈥檚 approval ratings are sinking and the Japanese business and civil service establishment seem eager to dismiss him as an ineffectual clown.
鈥淗ow Japan reacts to this new sense of weakness 鈥� exaggerated though it may be 鈥� will matter to the whole world. The country鈥檚 size and strategic importance make it critical to America鈥檚 Pacific strategy and to China鈥檚 geopolitical calculations.
鈥淎s it adapts to Japan鈥檚 new circumstances the Hatoyama government has, almost unwittingly, initiated a debate about the value of Japan鈥檚 alliance with the US. Some western observers in Tokyo muse that perhaps Japan is once again following its historic policy of adapting to shifts in global politics by aligning itself with great powers. Before the first world war the country had a special relationship with Britain. In the inter-war period Japan allied itself with Germany. Since 1945, it has stuck closely to America. Perhaps the ground is being prepared for a new 鈥檚pecial relationship鈥� with China?鈥�
The signs of Japan鈥檚 shifting allegiances are showing up in a variety of ways. A statement from Japan鈥檚 foreign minister revealed his perspective that, 鈥渢his will be the age of Asia.鈥� Similarly, Japan鈥檚 prime minister has criticized America鈥檚 鈥渦nrestrained market fundamentalism.鈥�
Tellingly, the verbal distancing has crossed over into the military realm as well. The Democratic Party of Japan has expressed a desire to see the US move its Okinawa military base. Given the US-Japanese security treaty, and the roughly 50,000 Americans in place there, it鈥檚 no small matter to mention offhand.
You can read more about the relationship dynamics between the three nations in Financial Times coverage of .
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