Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP)

In the news, the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal fails to come to an agreement.

My thoughts and comments:

The TPP is not just about economics. It also has to do with politics. It is Uncle Sam's effort trying to control and counter-balance the rise of China, especially in Asia Pacific. Does it make any sense at all, if not for politics, that the TPP does not include China, the largest country in Asia Pacific?

Is Japan Giving Up Pacifism ?

In the news, 25,000 Japanese protesters in Toyko opposed war legislation put forward by their Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. These are my thoughts and comments:

To allow Japan to give up Pacifism and re-militarize itself is a terrible mistake. Japan's war crimes and atrocities against China and other Asian and non-Asian countries still have not been settled. Don't know what political and military game that Abe is playing.

Regarding Japan's war crimes and atrocities committed against China in the Second World War, Japan still has not issued a formal apology to China. Instead, Abe just said to the U.S. Congress that "History is harsh. What was done cannot be undone." What an irresponsible statement and B.S. it was !

When I went to university in the U.S., I had a Japanese schoolmate Yoshi who talked candidly about these things with me, including Japan's invasion and occupying of China, the Nanjing Massacre, Sex Slaves, and so many war crimes and atrocities. Yoshi said these words to me, " I sincerely apologize to China for Japan." Whao, how I wish Yoshi became the Prime Minister of Japan, not Shinzo Abe.  

If Japan or other Asian countries think that the U.S. will always take side with them to fight China, they are making a terrible mistake. China wants peace, not war, but China will never be humiliated by Japan ever again. It is unlikely that the U.S. will go to war with China or Russia. If it did, a nuclear war would break out, and the whole world would be finished.

Uncle Sam also makes a terrible mistake, if he thinks that NATO members will always "obey" him 100%. If the U.S. goes to war with Russia, I bet Germany and France will not follow, in spite of NATO's so-called principle of "If you attack one, you attack all". Does this remind you of George Bush's stupid statement that "you are either on our side, or you are on the terrorist's side!" ?

At the end of the day, each country would be most concerned with its own well being and success, and would not blindly take action solely based on its membership or affiliation with whatever organization or alliance it belongs to. I mean when the shit hit the fan, it is not impossible that ideology and membership would yield to unexpected action rather based on rationality, reality and practicality.

I dare to say that the whole Asia, including Japan, is already substantially anchored with and influenced by China's growing economy. To put it bluntly, if you are an Asian country located in Asia, would you join the increasingly prosperous and powerful China Club nearby, or the debt-ridden and declining American Club thousands of miles away?

China is not a new rising power. It is a re-emerging power. Except for the last 200 years or so, China has always been the super power of the world. When I attended university in the U.S., an American History Professor told me that the 19th century belongs to the British Empire, the 20th century belongs to the United States of America, and the 21st century belongs to China. Looks like he is right.

Dear Mr. Abe, please listen to your own peace-loving Japanese protesters. Even Uncle Sam is showing signs of being tired of repeated war games, and you think that by re-militarizing Japan, you can again invade and fight China?

Diaoyu Islands: China and Japan Conflict

The dispute regarding the Diaoyu Islands between China and Japan is a very sensitive issue. Right now, both South Korea and China are pissed off, because Japan has made its school books and maps to include some dispute islands in the China Sea, including the Diaoyu Islands, as parts of Japan.

I have done some studies about the Diaoyu Islands, which are known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan. In Youtube, you can find and watch a good number of videos about the Diaoyu Islands dispute, some of which are pro-China, and some are pro-Japan. Certainly, China took one position, and Japan took another position, otherwise there would be no conflict. I am a pacifist. I believe in peaceful solutions to all conflicts. I am pro-peace and anti-war. That said, I think these islands should be returned by Japan to China.

There is a Youtube video titled 'Diaoyu Islands The Truth' made by Chris D. Nebe, a German film director from Hollywood. I am inviting all my friends (whether you are Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Filipino, Singaporean, Australian, American, Canadian, or of any nationality) to watch this well-made documentary video (42 minutes long), to learn a little bit about the modern history of China, Asia and the world.

I have many things to say about the Diaoyu Islands, Asia and the World, but I just want to touch on a few major points here:

After Japan's defeat and surrender in World War Two, it was clear that it must return all territories to their previous owners, and be allowed to keep its 4 major islands only.

The Diaoyu (meaning Fishing) Islands have been used by Chinese fishermen as a station, base, or platform for hundreds if not thousands of years.

Upon the end of WW2, the U.S. gave the Diaoyu Islands to Japan for administration without the agreement of China. To allow Japan to administer the islands could not mean the transfer of ownership or sovereignty of those lands to Japan. Administration is NOT ownership. Temporary control and usage of the Diaoyu Islands by Japan should have been made agreeable to China, not by unilateral action of the U.S. who gave them to Japan.

Was there any explicit U.S. signed statement, which was legal and recognized by the UN, that the Diaoyu Islands were given to Japan for ownership, not administration? Besides, the U.S. was not the owner of the Diaoyu Islands (not being part of the U.S.), so did the U.S. even have the legal authority to let Japan administer them? Again, as part of  the conditions of Japan's surrender in WW2 , it must return all territories to their previous owners. Were the Diaoyu Islands made an exception, that Japan could keep them ?

How could it be fair for the U.S. to sign a treaty with Japan, without the inclusion of China, when the subject matter was historically Chinese and stolen by Japan ? Apparently, the dispute of the Diaoyu Islands was swept under the rug, which later resurfaced. Kicking the can down the road can never be a solution. Sooner or later, the conflict will fire up again.    

Japan's war crime is not fiction. It is a historical fact. The Nanjing Massacre claimed the lives of 300,000 Chinese civilians. Japanese soldiers raped Chinese women and played games by throwing Chinese babies in the air, then stuck their guns or machetes to the butts of the babies to kill them. Comfort women made of Chinese, Koreans and other nationalities were forced to be sex slaves of the Japanese soldiers. People were buried alive.  

If Japan has the moral courage to apologize to China and the Chinese people, (and to the Korean people, actually also to other Asians and people of other nationalities), then I believe China will forgive Japan on its war crimes and atrocities. The problem is that Japan would not apologize. Instead, it's been creating tension with China. This is the major problem in the relationship between China and Japan today. Regarding the Diaoyu Islands, the U.S. has no official position, but it looks like Uncle Sam is taking side with Japan. The U.S. military alliance is with Japan, not with China.

Based on historical, legal and moral grounds, or just on moral ground, it would be better off for Japan to return the Diaoyu Islands to China. Just based on the terrible war crimes committed by Japan against China, Japan owes to China much more than just these few small islands. 

What is your opinion ? To let China take leadership in building Asia (such as through the newly formed Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank), or let Japan be the leader? Don't you know Japan is in economic deep shit, and the U.S., too ? Just using a nice-sounding terminology of Quantitative Easing cannot hide the real meaning of the action, which is printing money or creating fiat money out of thin air by the U.S. and Japanese Governments. My humble opinion is that Quantitative Easing is a problem, not a solution. It is like keep kicking a bomb down the road. Sooner or later, it will explore.

Can you see China is a hardworking builder and rising leader, and the U.S. is in heavy debt and has become a tired warrior and destroyer? Whether you like it or not (probably Uncle Sam doesn't), China is rising. My humble opinion is this: Japan has 2 choices: (1)  return the Diaoyu Islands and apologize to China, co-operate with China to develop Asia and the world, and become prosperous and peaceful together with China, Asia and the world, or (2) refuse to have the moral courage to apologize to China, and continue to create tension and the illusion that the U.S. will always come to your military protection.

I don't think the U.S. will go to war directly with China or Russia. That could mean World War Three and the end of the world. The U.S. may provide some military assistance to Japan, yes, but in the end if a war broke out between China and Japan, the dead soldiers and civilians would be largely Japanese and Chinese, not Americans. Dear Japan, please remember this: you invaded China and committed some undeniably terrible war crimes. China did not drop the two atomic bombs on you. The U.S. did. Do you want Peace or do you want War?       

I am not against Japan, the U.S. or any country. I am pro-peace and anti-war. Forgive all past mistakes. Forgive yourself and forgive all others. Start new. Be friends. Co-operate and build together, instead of fighting, killing, and causing death and destruction

I welcome any comments or ideas. If you are an international law expert, please speak up. How are we going to solve the problem PEACEFULLY regarding the Diaoyu Islands ? Would it work if Japan acknowledged the sovereignty and ownership belongs to China, and China allowed Japan to jointly administer the Diaoyu Islands for mutual benefits? Is there any Win-Win solution? PEACE TO ALL !!!