The contemporary Japan is behaving like an American colony and rapidly moving towards enhanced animosity vis-à-vis Russia, China, and North Korea.
It was the US and its Allies who wrote the Japanese Constitution and made it a pseudo peace-loving nation and reduced its armed forces to merely self-defence forces. However, in reality, since the end of the Second World War, the US has been occupying Japan and deployed its massive armed forces there using it as a bulwark against Russia, China, and North Korea. It is to be remembered here that the US Navy’s 7th Fleet is deployed at the Japanese seaport of Yokosuka and its presence near Russia’s Vladivostok, China’s East China Fleet, and North Korea’s Navy raises serious concerns for Russia, China, and North Korea. The Pacific is not now and has never been the territorial waters of the US and its huge military presence in the region is highly questionable. It is quite strange that the American presence in the region is being facilitated and perhaps financed by Japan, which is again contrary to the norms and values of international affairs.
Japan’s Ministry of Defence Publication
The Japanese Ministry of Defence published a very important document titled as “Defence of Japan 2023.” At that time, Mr. Hamada Yasukazu was serving as the Defence Minister, as he previously served in that same position as well and a very well-informed Japanese high-ranking politician. In the opening of the said document, statements are mentioned like “Russia’s aggression against Ukraine,” China “is rapidly enhancing its military capability,” and the North Korea is “rapidly advancing its nuclear and missile development.”
Though, the entire document looks like a clearly drafted instrument of hatred towards Russia, China, and North Korea’ however, the abovementioned quotes are misleading as well as inaccurate.
Why Japan views Russia, China, and North Korea with the same lens?
The Japanese Ministry of Defence document mentioned that “Russia’s military activities in the Indo-Pacific region including Japan, together with its strategic coordination with China, are of strong security concern.” It mentioned that “China’s current external stance, military activities, and other activities have become a matter of serious concern for Japan.” It also said that “North Korea’s military activities pose an even more grave and imminent threat to Japan’s national security than ever before.”
Well, if we objectively try and analyse the arguments and observations made by the Japanese Ministry of Defence, then we would realise that none of these make sense and not abrogating the international law.
The Japanese observations regarding the Russian, Chinese, and North Korean activities in the Pacific Ocean do not contradict or violate the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). These sovereign countries are equal in the terms of juridical rights and possess same privileges as Japan does.
Conclusions
After analysing Japan’s National Security Strategy and the Defence of Japan 2023, it is not difficult to conclude that Japan views Russia, China, and North Korea with the same lens, since the Imperial Japanese committed so many crimes against these countries and now the Japanese policy makers are fearful of a perceived revenge by these countries. It is obvious that despite the Western sanctions and intense diplomatic pressure, the Russian economy is booming, China is enhancing its military capabilities, and North Korea is committed to pursue its national interest.
Japan has repeatedly attacked Russia with its wrongful and erroneous claims over the Kuril Islands. In the eyes of the international law, Japan has no sovereign right over Kuril Islands, as its leaders surrendered the islands to Russia during the San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1951. The Japanese must stop such a rhetoric of hatred and animosity.
The Japanese National Security Strategy claimed that “China is strengthening its strategic ties with Russia and attempting to challenge the international order.” First, neither Russia nor China has the desire to change or challenge the international order. Second, the improvement of Sino-Russian relations using the multilateral platforms like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS is a welcome development not only for the region, but also for the entire globe. No one should interpret the collective development projects with something else. It is worthy to mention here that Russia and China along with the SCO countries are working relentlessly to combat the global menace of terrorism. The latter has equally affected the entire international community and collective efforts are to be appreciated.
Simon Westwood – is a Masters student at the Dublin City University (DCU), Ireland. He is also a Research Assistant at the DCU’s Department of History
