Hi people. I ve been reading a really interesting book about the relationship of Japan with its neighbor countries after WWII. The book claims that the japanese goverments after WWII have not worked to improve these relationships, otherwise, the foreign policy of Japan is focus on the US.
Japan often think of itself as a part of Europe rather than a part of Asia, according to this book, and thats why since the Meiji period, the japanese people look down on its asian neighbors. This actitute led the japanese to invade Korea, China and the rest of the countries in WWII. After the war, Japan did almost nothing to heal the scars and thats why people in countries like China and Korea do not trust the japanese.
Right now, the japanese goverment is asking to change the constitution and build an army that act outside Japan. Of course China do not agree with this idea. Japan claims that the North Korea nuclear issue and the Taiwan issue demands that the country has a capable force willing to intervine. The US back up that position. But since Japan is not popular among its neighbors, the role of been the Police man of Asia seems to be out of place.
In the other side, North Korea has nukes, and its willing to use them. The US and the rest of the International comunity
wants to negociate (because North Korea has real WMDS, not fake ones like Iraq). China backs up North Korea.
Plus, Japan and United States are not really popular among the people of South Korea either.
We also have Taiwan. China wants Taiwan back and there is a possibility of a chinese invassion someday. If the US back up Taiwan, Japan might be forced to intervine.
Do you guys belive that Japan will be involved in another war soon?
It seems that the japanese goverment is preparing itself for that. Right now with a lot young japanese people unemployed and with no hope in the future, the field is ready to prepare a generation to war, like Hitler did in the Germany of the 30