Japan's insecurity and its relations with China

Comments on the comments by Aurelia George Mulgan on “Australia, and managing Japan’s insecurity”, 13/07/2009, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/07/13/australia-and-managing-japans-insecurity/

Obviously, there have been some untrust between China and Japan, from time to time.

I understand that Japan provided aid to China, although I don't know how much over the years.

I also don't know the normal international practices regarding war compensations, although I understand that China did not ask for war compensations from Japan. I also know that many Chinese are or were unhappy with that.

While Japan may feel that China is ungrateful to its aid, there have been impressions among many Chinese that Japan was half-hearted in providing assistance to China and did not like to see China to develop or become strong and rich, although it wanted to benefit from some opportunities. Was that because of its insecurity?

In terms of security, it is understandable that China did/does not like to be contained internationally, with Japan as part of the containment and as the deputy of a superpower in doing it.

So both sides may have their own stories and reasons to feel unhappy.

But past is past and few can change the history. What is important is today and tomorrow. Both sides need to look to the future relations.

Countries should respect with each other, no matter rich or poor, large or small, strong or weak. The relations between China and Japan should be based on mutual respect and trust.

There have been periods when the relations between the two countries were good. Both should reflect on how they can have long-last good relations.

China needs to remain a peaceful nation forever and an important international force for peace and stability of the region and the world, even when it becomes very strong in the future.

Japan needs to realise that sooner or later China will become a very powerful country and few individual countries will be able to match its power, even probably the US.

So the important issue is not to try to use the US to contain China, rather it is important to establish a peaceful, secure and stable international order where countries don't threat each other with force, as it has been so often in the past.

UN and some other regional forums as opposed to military alliance should be promoted as the mechanism to resolve any issues between countries. Will the alliance, even with the current most powerful country be always effective into the future?

So what is important for security? Every country needs to have a rational, strategic and realistic view.

I hope both China and Japan will choose the correct one and always have a good relation. They are two most important countries in the region. It is in the interest of each country.