US is Key to Spectre of East Asian War

US is Key to Spectre of East Asian War
China Times Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
August 18, 2015

Executive Summary:Japanese Prime Minister Abe addressed the Japanese Diet on the 70th anniversary of World War II. He spoke of reflecting upon history. But he failed to acknowledge Japanese militarist responsibility for launching a war of aggression. Nor did he offer a sincere apology to its victims. He has yet to personally visit the Yakasuni Shrine. But as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, he has underwritten the costs of recent visits. Three members of his cabinet visited the shrine on August 15, on the euphemistically named "anniversary of end of the war". Clearly the Abe government and the Liberal Democratic Party have yet to genuinely reflect on Japan's aggression during World War II. Clearly they refuse to cut the party's historic links with Japanese militarism.

Full Text Below:

Japanese Prime Minister Abe addressed the Japanese Diet on the 70th anniversary of World War II. He spoke of reflecting upon history. But he failed to acknowledge Japanese militarist responsibility for launching a war of aggression. Nor did he offer a sincere apology to its victims. He has yet to personally visit the Yakasuni Shrine. But as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, he has underwritten the costs of recent visits. Three members of his cabinet visited the shrine on August 15, on the euphemistically named "anniversary of end of the war". Clearly the Abe government and the Liberal Democratic Party have yet to genuinely reflect on Japan's aggression during World War II. Clearly they refuse to cut the party's historic links with Japanese militarism.

Over the past few years, the Abe government has flagrantly disregarded the peace constitution. It has ignored mainstream public opposition. It used the Liberal Democratic Party's majority in both houses of the Diet to ram through a "security bill" that meshes with the United States' Asian-Pacific rebalancing strategy. This has raised tensions between Mainland China, the United States, and Japan. This has forced Asian countries to choose sides or even take part in an arms race. This is not just detrimental to Asian economic development, it even brings back the specter of war.

The underlying cause is US strategic intentions in Asia, and its impact on Abe's attitude. The United States is deliberately inciting confrontation between Mainland China and Japan in order to profit from their losses. Asian countries have yet to hear Abe offer a sincere apology. Relations between Japan and South Korea will continue to deteriorate and become a lose-lose proposition. If the United States genuinely wants Asia to enjoy the dividends of peace, it should encourage Abe to offer a sincere apology for World War II aggression and reject militarism. Japan should emulate Germany, which had the courage to repent and has been forgiven by the countries it victimized. Taiwan, Mainland China, Japan, and South Korea must return to the path of peace. Problems must be solved by those who created them. Abe's address had an impact on war and peace in Asia. But the one who truly sets the tone is the United States.

The US is currently on the brink of fiscal paralysis. Mainland China and Japan, as America's biggest creditors, occupy key positions in Asia's new economic order. Three way cooperation between Mainland China, the United States, and Japan, is essential. The political and economic scene in Asia entails new rules of the game. These will enable countries to become part of the new Asian order, and avoid zero-sum games. US cooperation with Mainland China and Japan is the basis of globalization and the key to a stable international order.

The US receives important trade and security benefits from Asia. It promotes American values such as freedom, democracy, and human rights. If it wants to continue doing so, it must make comprehensive policy plans, including bolstering its own financial structure and market competitiveness. Its main goal must be to maintain stability and to combat terrorism in the Asian-Pacific region.

The major Asian countries must believe the United States has the economic and military wherewithal to ensure constructive and cooperative Sino-Japanese relations. A US in decline will evoke Mainland Chinese and Japanese contempt for the United States. It will encourage them to adopt hard line stances. If Americans are unhappy with their international status, they will be inclined to sow discord between Mainland China and Japan, and resort to deceit to incite unease and anxiety in Asia.

Therefore we hope the United States will increase its strength, accept the rise of Mainland China, accept its lost leadership status, and cultivate peaceful relations with Mainland China. The United States should encourage Japan to become a normal nation. Japan must clearly apologize for its acts of aggression during World War II, and repudiate Japanese militarism. Only then can it regain the trust of its Asian neighbors. Japan can then become a strategic buffer, and promote a win/win/win scenario between Mainland China, the US, and Japan, as well as between Mainland China, Japan,  and Taiwan. The US can then cease using cross-Strait relations and the Sino-Japanese conflict to reap strategic advantage.

Mainland China, the United States, and Japan are Taiwan's most important economic, trade, and security partners. Healthy coopetition among the United States, Mainland China, and Japan is beneficial to Taiwan. If military conflict erupts among them, Taiwan cannot avoid being dragged in. The public on Taiwan seeks continued cross-Strait peace. Peace is a necessary condition for stability and prosperity. Taiwan wants Mainland China, the United States, and Japan, to create a win/win/win scenario for Asia. Prime Minister Abe said Taiwan is an important partner. As a friend of Japan, we encourage Japan to face the facts of history, offer sincere repentance, obtain forgiveness from its Asian neighbors, and courageously tread the path of peace in Asia.

The Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Agreement shows that sovereignty disputes can be settled peacefully and the threat of conflict can be averted, leading to a win-win situation. Taiwan will not be satisfied merely to obtain fishing rights. It will continue to promote cooperation between the US and Japan. The "East China Sea peace initiative" and "South China Sea Peace Initiative" can facilitate peace and stability in Asia.

Will this road map for peace in Asia work? That depends on the United States and its attitude toward war and peace in East Asia. Will it persuade the Abe government to apologize to its Asian neighbors for World War II aggression, and repudiate Japanese militarism? Only that can dispel the specter of war, and ensure a bright future for Asia.

化解東亞戰爭幽靈 美國是關鍵

2015年08月18日 中國時報

日本首相安倍發表戰後70周年談話，雖然說出了反省歷史錯誤的關鍵字，卻沒有對日本軍國主義發動戰爭的侵略本質及責任問題作出交代，也沒有向受害國人民誠摯道歉。他本人雖未參加靖國神社祭拜，但還是以執政自民黨黨魁名義，奉納祭祀費，並有三位閣員於8月15日「終戰紀念日」參加祭拜，凸顯安倍政府及自民黨並未真切反省二戰侵略行為，更不願切割自民黨與軍國主義的歷史連結。

過去幾年，安倍政府公然漠視和平憲法，不顧主流民意反對，挾自民黨在參眾兩院優勢席位，蓄意強行通過《安保法案》，以迎合美國「亞太再平衡戰略」需求，導致亞洲陷入中美日競逐加劇的不安局勢，迫使亞洲國家面臨選邊站噩夢，甚至落入軍備競賽陷阱，不僅對亞洲經濟發展不利，也讓戰爭幽靈再度徘徊。

我們深究原因，是美國對亞洲的戰略意圖左右了日本安倍的態度。倘若美國刻意營造中日兩國對峙矛盾，以從中漁利，亞洲國家必定聽不到安倍誠心道歉表白，中日與日韓關係更將持續惡化，並陷入雙輸漩渦；倘若美國真心期望亞洲回歸和平發展正道，並享受亞洲和平紅利，就應該鼓勵日本安倍真心為二戰侵略行為道歉，切割軍國主義意識形態，學習德國勇敢認罪悔改救贖之道，並獲得被害國原諒與寬恕，讓中日韓關係回歸和平發展正道。解鈴還需繫鈴人，日本安倍談話正牽動亞洲「戰爭與和平」主旋律，但真正的定調者還是美國。

目前，美國的財政瀕臨癱瘓，中國與日本作為美國最大的債權國，處於亞洲經濟新秩序的關鍵地位。中美日三國合作意識至為重要，因為在亞洲政治經濟舞台上，需要調整並導入全新的遊戲規則，讓多數國家都能融入亞洲新秩序中，以避免「零和競爭」的惡性循環爆發。美國與中日兩國的合作夥伴關係是全球化的基礎，也是維持國際體系穩定運作的關鍵。

美國若要繼續從亞洲獲得重大的經貿與安全利益，並推廣美國的自由民主人權價值觀，就必須要有整體的政策配套與準備，包括在經濟上強化本國的財政結構與市場競爭力、在軍事上以維護亞太地區穩定與反恐為其主要任務。

同時，美國要讓亞洲主要國家相信，美國能夠在經濟上與軍事上，繼續與中日兩國發展建設性合作關係。因為，美國綜合國力的衰退將誘使中日兩國，對美國產生強硬或輕視的態度。當美國人自己不滿意自己的國際地位與能力時，也會對中日兩國採取挑撥離間，運用矛盾的詭詐手段，進一步製造亞洲的不安與焦慮。

因此，我們期盼美國能夠積極強化綜合國力，並逐漸調適接受中國崛起的事實，學習化解優越領導地位不再的失落感，進而培養與中國和平相處的正能量，並鼓勵日本在發展成為「正常國家」過程中，能夠先對二戰侵略行為認罪道歉，明確切割軍國主義，以重新取得亞洲鄰國信任對待，進而支持日本發揮「戰略緩衝者」功能，促進中美日與中日台的三贏格局，而非利用中日與兩岸關係的矛盾面，從中謀取戰略利益。

大陸及美日兩國是台灣最重要的經貿與安全合作夥伴，美中日三國在亞洲維持健康的競合關係，才是對台灣最有利的局勢，三方若失控爆發軍事衝突，台灣必然無法置身事外。維持兩岸和平發展更是台灣的主流民意，也是安定繁榮必要條件，台灣樂見中美日在亞洲營造「共贏格局」。安倍首相在國會強調台灣是日本重要夥伴，我們站在日本好友的立場，更鼓勵日本面對歷史事實，誠心認罪悔改，在獲得亞洲鄰國原諒後，勇敢走向共創亞洲和平發展的正確道路。

《台日漁業協議》的簽署顯示在主權衝突威脅下，以和平方式解決爭端、營造雙贏，是可行的。台灣不會以取得漁權為滿足，將繼續與中美日合作推動「東海和平倡議」與「南海和平倡議」，讓亞洲和平發展大局更穩固。

不過，這張「亞洲和平發展路線圖」能否繼續走下去，就要看美國如何為東亞的「戰爭與和平」定調，能否說服日本安倍政府為二戰侵略行為，向亞洲鄰國誠心道歉，明確切割軍國主義，化解戰爭幽靈，讓亞洲前途迎向光明。