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?

Japan Must Apologize

Japan prime minister Shinzo Abe's visit to the U.S. did not meet with welcome everywhere. In Youtube, I saw an American Second World War veteran accusing Abe of dodging the issue of Japan's war history. In Los Angeles, Abe's last stop, there were Chinese and Korean Americans protesting Japan's war crimes, and demanded Japan's apology. Apologize, Apologize, they shouted !

History is not fiction. It is about facts and what actually happened. Japan must own up its war crimes and atrocities committed in the Second World War against China, other Asian and non-Asian countries, and issue an official apology.

The China-Japan relationship today is still very difficult, largely because of Japan's continued denial of the 'real' history of Japan's invasion of China, the Nanjing Massacre, the sex slaves, and many such undeniable war crimes and atrocities. Changing facts and white-washing history just doesn't work. Nor can the U.S. deny the fact that it dropped 2 atomic bombs on Japan, killing 300,000 Japanese civilians. Nor can Japan deny the Pearl Harbour incident.

In order for countries to move forward and repair damaged relationship, they must admit what they did wrong, and apologize to the victim countries. In return, the victim countries must forgive the countries which did wrong and have officially apologized. It takes a lot of moral courage to apologize, and it is not easy to do so for most politicians who have very little spiritual I.Q. (a term I coined).

It's very sad but true, that the humans are quite advanced now in science and technology, but they are still spiritually very primitive. Their values are still about Money and Power, not Peace and Love. We, 'uncivilized' humans, continue to engage in warfare to fight and kill one another. Until and unless we make drastic changes of our current financial, economic and political systems in the world, I doubt Peace on Earth will come soon. We need a LOVE revolution !!!