East Asian countries turn to Japan
from Invasion to Invitation
Despite the shift to the right in Japanese politics, heated territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas are compelling more and more Asian countries to seek the aid of Japan in protecting their maritime trade and territory. Whereas Japanese ships invaded these waters during Imperial Japan's expansion into Asia, these same countries are now inviting Japanese patrol boats into their waters, in the hopes that a Japanese presence and multilateral cooperation will guarantee the safety and integrity of their territory in the face of a rising China.
A BBC article this week reported that Vietnam, which recently announced it wishes to bring Japanese patrol boats into its waters, is only one of many countries seeking Japan's help (many of which have already struck deals with Japan, and have been cooperating with Japan for many years). Moreover, the list of countries seeking Japan's help (including countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia), is undeniably reminiscent of the countries with which China has territorial disputes.
While China and Korea remain incredibly wary of the possible military threat Japan poses, it would seem every other country in the area is looking to Japan for help. Chinese and Koreans refuse to forget the atrocities committed by the Japanese during the first half of the 20th century, but countries such as Vietnam have opted to move past Japan's imperial history and focus instead on the changing calculus of power in the region. As China becomes more and more assertive in its territorial claims, countries in the region seem to be letting go of the past as the threats of the present become more and more apparent.
Japan's new Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, seems to be more than willing to work with Japan's new partners in Southeast Asia. Indeed, the emerging cooperation in the South China Sea is just what he promoted years ago, during his first term in office. Promoting the idea of an Asian 'Security Diamond', he sought to establish a strong alliance that would tie together Japan, India, Australia, and the US, a four-point bloc that would ensure security in the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, his call for 'Values-Oriented Diplomacy' is a rather thinly veiled effort to foster relations and cooperation between Asian countries that share common values, such as capitalism and democracy (ie countries that are not China).
While the Communist Party of China has continuously used spats over maritime sovereignty and territorial disputes to conjure up nationalism, the particularly extensive and aggressive propaganda campaigns of the last year have convinced many policy-makers that China will become more and more aggressive as its economic clout grows. Whether China's leaders choose to suspend these maritime disputes or dial up their rhetoric will have major ramifications for not only countries directly involved in these disputes, but for the region as a whole. As China expands its military and seeks to shore up its territorial claims in the surrounding seas, its security dilemma could become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Hawkish language could exacerbate fears in Southeast Asia, and compel these countries to form exactly the kind of anti-China coalition that Beijing fears. If Chinese policy-makers are not careful, they themselves could provide the impetus for a 'China-Containing' alliance, an alliance that the US and Japan would be more than happy to orchestrate.
Japan's role in the Asia-Pacific will prove to be vital in the coming years. Japanese foreign policy will shape the geopolitics of the region, just as changes in the region will affect Japanese politics; Japanese public opinion regarding Article IX and the establishment of a formal military will undoubtedly be affected by the situation in Southeast Asia (particularly the rise of China). As the third-largest economy in the world, a major trading-partner of both the US and China, and a key ally of the US in East Asia, Japan's role in the coming 'Pacific Century' cannot be overstated.
The report quotes the Vietnamese government as stating that in January of this year, the bureau that oversees fishing safety, the Fisheries Bureau of the Agricultural Development Department, established the Maritime Management Force and began to consider importing Japanese patrol boats to improve its monitoring and pursuing capabilities.
8 Countries Seek to Cooperate
According to the report, besides Vietnam, Japan has already received requests for maritime cooperation from many countries, and has already opened cooperation with the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Djibouti; countries currently seeking Japan’s help include Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Emphasizing Naval Power
The report quoted Japan’s International Cooperation Agency, the JICA, as stating: in contrast with the warlike conditions of the twentieth century, counterterrorism and maritime defense have become important topics. As developing countries open up maritime resources, there is a desperate need to upgrade the equipment of their coast guards.
Pro-Japan Trend: 20 to 2
Countries with sovereignty disputes with China in the South China Sea have shown a clear trend of siding with Japan. Abe has already visited Southeast Asia three times this year, and is preparing a fourth visit. ASEAN has scheduled a special head-of-state meeting in Japan this December.
While China and Korea remain incredibly wary of the possible military threat Japan poses, it would seem every other country in the area is looking to Japan for help. Chinese and Koreans refuse to forget the atrocities committed by the Japanese during the first half of the 20th century, but countries such as Vietnam have opted to move past Japan's imperial history and focus instead on the changing calculus of power in the region. As China becomes more and more assertive in its territorial claims, countries in the region seem to be letting go of the past as the threats of the present become more and more apparent.
Japan's new Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, seems to be more than willing to work with Japan's new partners in Southeast Asia. Indeed, the emerging cooperation in the South China Sea is just what he promoted years ago, during his first term in office. Promoting the idea of an Asian 'Security Diamond', he sought to establish a strong alliance that would tie together Japan, India, Australia, and the US, a four-point bloc that would ensure security in the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, his call for 'Values-Oriented Diplomacy' is a rather thinly veiled effort to foster relations and cooperation between Asian countries that share common values, such as capitalism and democracy (ie countries that are not China).
While the Communist Party of China has continuously used spats over maritime sovereignty and territorial disputes to conjure up nationalism, the particularly extensive and aggressive propaganda campaigns of the last year have convinced many policy-makers that China will become more and more aggressive as its economic clout grows. Whether China's leaders choose to suspend these maritime disputes or dial up their rhetoric will have major ramifications for not only countries directly involved in these disputes, but for the region as a whole. As China expands its military and seeks to shore up its territorial claims in the surrounding seas, its security dilemma could become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Hawkish language could exacerbate fears in Southeast Asia, and compel these countries to form exactly the kind of anti-China coalition that Beijing fears. If Chinese policy-makers are not careful, they themselves could provide the impetus for a 'China-Containing' alliance, an alliance that the US and Japan would be more than happy to orchestrate.
Japan's role in the Asia-Pacific will prove to be vital in the coming years. Japanese foreign policy will shape the geopolitics of the region, just as changes in the region will affect Japanese politics; Japanese public opinion regarding Article IX and the establishment of a formal military will undoubtedly be affected by the situation in Southeast Asia (particularly the rise of China). As the third-largest economy in the world, a major trading-partner of both the US and China, and a key ally of the US in East Asia, Japan's role in the coming 'Pacific Century' cannot be overstated.
Abe
pushes Japan to support Vietnam, the Philippines, and other countries with
patrol boats
Tong
Qian
BBC
Chinese Net Special Japan Correspondent
Last edited 2013/8/19, GMT
06:58
Vietnam, the Philippines, and
other countries share interest in Japan’s patrol boats
(Original language: Chinese)
(Translation: Paul Orner)
(Original language: Chinese)
(Translation: Paul Orner)
The report quotes the Vietnamese government as stating that in January of this year, the bureau that oversees fishing safety, the Fisheries Bureau of the Agricultural Development Department, established the Maritime Management Force and began to consider importing Japanese patrol boats to improve its monitoring and pursuing capabilities.
In July, Vietnam had already sent
an exploratory committee to Japan, requesting that Japan look into using the
ODA and other institutions to aid Vietnam.
Those within the Japanese
government have said that: “Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is paying great attention
to the matter of aiding Vietnam with patrol boats.”
8 Countries Seek to Cooperate
According to the report, besides Vietnam, Japan has already received requests for maritime cooperation from many countries, and has already opened cooperation with the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Djibouti; countries currently seeking Japan’s help include Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Current cooperation efforts
include four years of aid with maritime traffic, equipment, and training,
providing Indonesia with three 27-ton patrol boats for seven years, and
reaching an agreement with the Philippines for ten new 40-meter long,
large-size patrol boats.
The Asahi Shimbun said that in
the face of escalating maritime sovereignty disputes between each country and
China, the presence of Japanese patrol boats in Southeast Asia is spreading.
Although Abe’s administration is
actively working with each country, at present Japan’s budget and staff are not
sufficient to meet demand.
Emphasizing Naval Power
The report quoted Japan’s International Cooperation Agency, the JICA, as stating: in contrast with the warlike conditions of the twentieth century, counterterrorism and maritime defense have become important topics. As developing countries open up maritime resources, there is a desperate need to upgrade the equipment of their coast guards.
According to analysts, Japan’s
equipment and technology are very sophisticated, so much so that, to use the
Philippines as an example, even the coast guard using old American ships are
jealous. In addition, the economic
troubles of 2008, coupled with fierce competition between Japanese and
Chinese-Korean shipbuilding industries, pushed Japanese companies to start
discussions with the Philippine government and push for cooperation.
Analysts also stated that patrol
boats are much cheaper than military boats, as Japan’s annual maritime budget
equals the price of just one Aegis destroyer, thus attracting the attention of
many developing countries.
Pro-Japan Trend: 20 to 2
Countries with sovereignty disputes with China in the South China Sea have shown a clear trend of siding with Japan. Abe has already visited Southeast Asia three times this year, and is preparing a fourth visit. ASEAN has scheduled a special head-of-state meeting in Japan this December.
The American Research Center Pew
released this spring’s public opinion poll in July, showing that besides China
and Korea, the majority of respondents in all other countries said they had a
‘good’ impression of Japan.
Washington-based
international commentator Goosen Yoshihisa pointed out: “In Asia, besides the
outlier North Korea, there are twenty Pro-Japan countries, but only two
countries, China and Korea, that are Anti-Japanese, a trend of twenty to two that even Japanese don’t seem
to recognize.
（Editor：Yiren） 
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