Is Japan Determined to Reenact Its Wartime Folly?

Is Japan Determined to Reenact Its Wartime Folly?
China Times editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
May 13, 2013

Summary: If one looks back through history, one realizes Japan has never been a "normal" country. It has been a troublemaker in Asia for more than a century. Japan appears bent on its old path of foreign aggression. If it is, then we should restore the provisions of the Potsdam Declaration. The Chinese Mainland has recently begun questioning the legitimacy of Japan's rule over the Ryukyus. This is a first step.

Full Text below:

Japan's Meiji Restoration had three main goals. One, colonization enabling industrial prosperity. Two, the adoption of industrial civilization. Three, a wealthy nation and a powerful military. The ultimate goal was a wealthy nation and a powerful military. Japanese elder Yamagata Aritomo argued that "A powerful military is the basis of a wealthy nation." As a result, beginning in 1868, Japan began marching down the path of predatory, beggar-thy-neighbor, foreign militarism.

From then until 1945, Japan sent its military forces abroad at least eleven times. In 1874, it invaded Taiwan, perpetrating the Mudan Incident. Between 1894 and 1895, it provoked the First Sino-Japanese War. In 1900 it joined the "ba guo lian jun," or eight nation alliance, that invaded China during the Boxer Rebellion. Between 1904 and 1905, it fought the Russo-Japanese War. Between 1914 and 1918, it fought in World War I. Between 1918 and 1925, it invaded Siberia. Between 1927 and 1928, it invaded Shandong, perpetrating the Jinan Massacre, In 1931, it invaded northeast China, provoking the September 18 Incident. In 1932 it invaded Shanghai, provoking the January 28 Incident. In March and April of 1936, it launched a full-scale invasion of China. In 1941, it attacked Pearl Harbor, and provoked the war in the Pacific. Between 1886 and 1945, Japan's average annual military expenditure exceeded 10% of its GDP. During the last three decades of this period, the figure exceeded 12%.

Japanese academic Michio Morishima noted that "Victorious wars mean a wide range of benefits, including new territory, huge economic benefits, and countless new markets. These have led Japanese to regard wars as profitable ventures." Among these wars, seven were wars of aggression against China. The first "pot of gold" contributing to Japan's economic take-off, was the war reparations it extored from China following the First Sino-Japanese War. Later development of heavy and chemical industries in Japan paralleled long-term aggression against China from 1931 onward. The historical trail is clear. The first goal of Japan's "powerful military" was the invasion of China, and by plundering its resources, to achieve the attendant goal of a "wealthy nation."

Japan's militarism was a disaster for its Asian neighbors. In July 1945, in the "Potsdam Declaration," the United States and Britain told the world that the Allies' basic objectives would be reached only when "there is convincing proof that Japan's war-making power is destroyed."

But following World War II, the U.S. alone occupied Japan. For the sake of the Cold War the United States rapidly deviated from the Allies' agreement to disarm Japan. It encouraged Japan to rearm. Shigeru Yoshida was the longest-ruling Japanese leader during the early postwar period. He knew that the United States would defend Japan. Therefore he adopted the opposite approach from the Meiji era. He sought first to enrich the nation, and afterwards to strengthen the military. His secretary Kiichi Miyazawa explained, "Once the peoples' livelihood has been restored, the day of rearmament will come. Before that, national defense should temporarily to left to the Americans." In the face of U.S. pressure, Japan's Peace Constitution was the perfect shield to ward off criticism. In other words, Japan's post-war re-armament, was from the outset a United States initiative. Japan knew the United States would not dare give up Asia's largest "domino." This forced the United States to assume responsibility for Japan's national defense. As a result the Japanese economy following World War II experienced a swift recovery.

In recent years,Mainland China has undergone a resurgence. The United States conversely, has suffered a relative decline in overall national strength. As a result it has asked Japan to assume greater responsibility for maintaining joint US-Japan hegemony in Asia. Japan sees Mainland China's growing strength as unfavorable to its own long-term economic and political future. As a result the militaristic thinking of the Meiji Restoration has once again reared its ugly head, and become a dominant force in the nation.

Morimoto Min is a pro-LDP, right wing Japanese academic. On September 24, 2009, he published an article in the "Sankei Shimbun" openly advocating Japan once again adopting the 'wealthy nation, powerful military" path. He said "This principle has remained unchanged since the birth of the nation." Last June, Yoshihiko Noda of the Democratic Party appointed of Morimoto to the sensitive post of defense minister. As we can see, belief in the "wealthy nation, powerful military" approach is shared by all of Japan's major political parties. According to a Kyodo News poll, 60% of the public supports his appointment. The Noda Cabinet's overall approval rating has increased. Obviously it has public support.

The current "wealthy nation, powerful military" policy harks back to Yamagata Aritomo's old justification for militarism, that "A powerful military is the basis of a wealthy nation." The Noda Cabinet appointed Morimoto to this sensitive position. It outrageously "nationalized" China's territory, provoking a crisis in the Diaoyutai Islands. Noda successor Abe, has even more flagrantly championed this Road to Perdition that led to years of war in Asia.

Japan refused to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. It implies that it is developing nuclear weapons. One hundred and sixty-eight members of Japan's parliament paid a visit to the Yasukuni Shrine. Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso and three members of the Cabinet paid a visit to the Yasukuni Shrine. Abe paid a visit to the shrine in his capacity as Prime Minister. He presided over a high-profile "Sovereignty Restoration Day" ceremony. At the ceremony Abe declared that "We are obliged to make Japan more powerful." He sang the Japanese militarists' anthem, the "Kimigayo." He led three cheers of "Long live the Emperor!" He then donned a camouflage uniform, a helmet, and boarded a tank.

It is as if we have traveled back in time, to the beginning of World War II, and Japan is clamoring for a "Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere."

Last December, in order to revive Japanese militarism, Japan announced a new draft constitution. It expressly identified the Japanese emperor as the head of state, and not just a symbolic leader. The Japan Self-Defense Force will change its name to the Japanese Army. Abe is also actively working to modify Article 96 of the Constitution to lower the threshold for amending the constitution. This will enable him to amend Article 9 of the Constitution, totally nullifying the Peace Constitution.

If one looks back through history, one realizes Japan has never been a "normal" country. It has been a troublemaker in Asia for more than a century. Japan appears bent on its old path of foreign aggression. If it is, then we should restore the provisions of the Potsdam Declaration. The Chinese Mainland has recently begun questioning the legitimacy of Japan's rule over the Ryukyus. This is a first step.

中時電子報 新聞
中國時報 　2013.05.13
社論－日本想回到戰敗原點？
本報訊

    　日本明治維新三大政策「殖產興業、文明開化、富國強兵」中，富國強兵是總目標。元老山縣有朋闡明其間關係是「強兵為富國之本」。於是，日本從一八六八年開始，走上以鄰為壑、對外掠奪的軍國主義道路。

    　從此直到一九四五年，日本至少十一次對外用兵：一八七四年侵略台灣（牡丹社事件）、一八九四?九五年甲午戰爭、一九○○年參加八國聯軍、一九○四?○五年日俄戰爭、一九一四?一八年參加一次大戰、一九一八?二五年侵略西伯利亞、一九二七?二八年侵略山東（濟南慘案）、一九三一年侵略東北（九一八）、一九三二年侵略上海（一二八）、一九三七?四五年全面侵華，直至一九四一年偷襲珍珠港、挑起太平洋戰爭。從一八八六年至一九四五年間，平均每年的軍費開支都超過國民生產總值的十％以上，在後三十年裡還超過了十二％。

    　日本學者森島通夫指出：「戰爭勝利的結果意味著獲得廣泛的賠償、新的領土、巨大的經濟利益或無數的新市場，這些都使日本人把戰爭看成是一場有利可圖的冒險。」這些戰爭中，七次是侵略中國。而促成日本經濟起飛的「第一桶金」，就是甲午戰爭的賠款。日後日本重化工業的發展更是與一九三一年起對中國的長期侵略並行而進。史蹟斑斑：日本「強兵」，首先就要侵略中國，然後藉著掠奪中國資源達成「富國」目標。

    　由於日本窮兵黷武，造成亞洲鄰國的深重災難，一九四五年七月中美英在《波茨坦宣言》中昭告天下：「直至日本製造戰爭之力量業已毀滅，有確定可信之證據時」，同盟國的戰爭基本目的才算完成。

    　但是，二戰戰後美國單獨佔領日本。為了冷戰需要，美國很快背離同盟國要使日本非武裝化的約定，鼓勵其重新武裝。然而，日本戰後初期執政最久的吉田茂看準美必保護日本，於是採取與明治時期相反的作法：先求富國、再求強兵。其秘書官宮澤喜一解釋說：「將來國民生活得到恢復以後，重整軍備的日子反正會來到的，在那以前，防務暫時讓美國人去搞」，面對美方壓力，「（和平）憲法正好是最好的擋箭牌」。換言之，日本戰後重新建軍，一開始就是美在推動。日本反而賴定美國不敢放棄這張亞洲最大的「骨牌」，使美為其承擔防務，於是日本經濟在二戰後才能迅速恢復。

    　近年中國大陸復興，美國綜合國力相對下降，便要求日本承擔更多維持亞洲美日聯合霸權之責。並且，日本眼看與中國實力對比日益不利於己，自身經濟又長期無起色，於是明治維新以來的軍國主義思維化暗為明，又成主導力量。

    　日本親自民黨的右派學者森本敏於二○○九年九月廿四日在《產經新聞》為文公開主張日本應重走「富國強兵」之路，認為「這是國家誕生以來不變的原則」。去年六月，民主黨的野田佳彥任命森本敏出任防衛大臣，可見「富國強兵」已是日本主要政黨的共同政策。據日本共同社的民調，六○％的民眾支持此項任命，野田內閣的整體支持率也因此提升，顯然亦有民意基礎。

    　這次的「富國強兵」，回到山縣有朋「強兵為富國之本」的軍國主義老路。野田內閣就在任命森本敏之後，悍然將釣魚台「國有化」，挑起釣島危機。接替野田的安倍晉三，更明目張膽地大力推動這一曾造成亞洲連年戰禍的罪惡路線。

    　於是，我們看到日本：拒簽日內瓦防核擴散條約會議共同聲明，暗示發展核武；一六八名國會議員集體參拜靖國神社；副首相麻生太郎等三名內閣成員參拜靖國神社，安倍則以「內閣總理大臣」名義供奉祭品；高調舉行「主權恢復日」紀念儀式，安倍在典禮上表示「我們有責任使日本更強大」，還帶領大家唱日本軍國主義國歌《君之代》、三呼「天皇萬歲」；安倍披上迷彩軍服，戴著頭盔登上一輛戰車…

    　看到這些鏡頭，彷彿穿越時空回到二戰結束以前，日本還在叫囂「武運長久、八紘一宇」的恐怖時代！

    　為了恢復軍國主義，去年十二月日本公布的新憲法草案，明訂日皇為國家元首，不只是國家象徵；日本自衛隊改名為日本軍隊。安倍還積極運作修改憲法第九十六條降低修憲門檻，以進而修改憲法第九條，徹底廢除和平憲法。

    　回顧過去歷史，日本是一個從來未曾「正常」的國家、一個為患亞洲超過一世紀的麻煩製造者。如果日本執意走回過去對外侵略的舊路，我們就應恢復《波茨坦宣言》的對日立場。最近大陸開始質疑日本領有琉球的合法性，就是走出了第一步。