The recent tensions between China and Japan over the Senkaku Islands (or Diaoyu Islands) show that both countries are still unable to overcome past hostilities or suspicions. Nine years ago I wrote this piece for an American publication, as at that time I was living in China (2003-2006) and was able to offer a perspective from ‘inside’. (In fact, the next year I moved to Japan and lived there until 2011.)
If we substitute the issue of ‘textbooks’ and the Japanese leader ‘Koizumi’ in the text below, then this article is very similar to what I would write about the current situation today.
Not a word of this feature from 2005 has been changed, because nothing about this issue has really changed in 2014.
Came Back Haunted
Hate is a very powerful emotion, but in the last few weeks here in China, it has manifested itself in a disturbingly vitriolic manner. The target of this outpouring of negative feelings was predictably Japan, for reasons that lie in the past, present and, safe to say, in the future.
This enduring feud recently bubbled to the surface again as the Japanese approved new history textbooks that completely ignore the war crimes carried out by the Imperial Japanese Army in China from 1937-1945.
Even though history shows a whole list of incidents that are bound to upset the Chinese, such as the use of biological weapons or keeping women as sex slaves, it is specifically the Nanjing massacre of civilians in 1937 that is often cited by China to keep its population united and focused against the common enemy.
While the Chinese government is keen to control the Internet and all its trappings of freedom and creativity, it encourages websites that spread hatred, propaganda and graphic images highlighting past Japanese cruelty. The words ‘massive’ and ‘hypocrisy’ spring to mind.
A Textbook Apology
It is understandable that the Chinese feel outraged at the Japanese insensitivity, but a closer look at the facts reveals that the offending textbooks actually only account for less than 1% of all the books used in Japanese schools, and many teachers in that country agree that the new texts are wrong.
But China remains stubborn, once again pointing to the lack of apologies from Japan for its past activities — completely ignoring that Japan has apologized several times for its wartime misconduct (albeit sometimes in a less than sincere manner) and that it also has heavily invested in China to provide the funds for its rapid economic development.
Beijing accepted money as a form of apology, but conveniently forgot to tell its people about it. Many Chinese are still unaware that much of their infrastructure has been built with Japanese money, which begs the question: Where do they think it all comes from?
The Atrocity Exhibition
China wants Japan to face up to its past, but is astonishingly unable to do the same regarding its own history, which has seen an invasion and annexation of Tibet in 1951; the disastrous Cultural Revolution 1966-1976 that lost a million lives as the revered leader Mao Ze Dong attempted anarchic totalitarianism; and of course the Tiananmen Square massacre of protesting students in 1989.
Some older and more radical-minded Chinese have decided to forego purchasing Japanese products altogether, which means that most electronic goods, computer games, and cosmetics are off limits to them.
China’s youth would find it difficult to follow suit, as it seems that most boys are surgically attached to the latest computer game, and most girls are devout in their application of make-up and other beauty products… all made in Japan.
Aside from the passive business boycott, there have been much more active displays, involving “spontaneous” demonstrations as people took to the streets to voice their disapproval of Japan’s latest behaviour.
Art of Noise
Here in Tianjin, many college students were rudely woken up in the morning, taken by bus to a designated site, given banners and “encouraged” to participate in protest marches.
If the rest of the country were as organized as these orchestrations of hate are, then it would run considerably smoother.
Across China, some Japanese have been beaten up by enraged mobs, there have been riots, the Japanese embassy in Beijing was attacked, and many other unpleasant incidents, all goaded on by the government, which has done nothing to control the situation but on the contrary has inspired and stoked the fires of antagonism.
It reminds me of “Hate Week” in George Orwell’s 1984, where citizens deprived of basic liberties are coerced by the Party to vent their fury against elusive enemy Emmanuel Goldstein. Amazing how life imitates art.
The Chaos Theory
While Japan’s past actions undoubtedly represent the dark side of its national character, the present actions of China reveal its own shadow and show just how dangerous this country can become.
On a daily basis, life is chaotic but reasonable and certainly not violent, but it’s apparent (and worrying) how easily a mob can form in this part of the world.
A road accident brings a crowd of sightseers to gawk at a dead or injured body lying in the street. The police (corrupt to the core, it should be added) arrive, hands in pockets with a disdainful and arrogant manner. They make no effort at crowd control as the mob swells, thus creating more traffic problems on the road, and a sense of macabre madness.
An argument in the street or a vehicle collision transforms itself into theatre as the audience takes sides and listens to the combatants’ verbal sparring. Here in China, the mob rules, and with a population of 1.2 billion, they feel that safety in numbers counts.
Rhythm of Futility
The implications of all this hostility won’t simply lie down and die. Japan seeks a permanent place on the UN Security Council which, unsurprisingly, China opposes. China’s military expenditure is increasing dramatically, which worries Japan and pushes it closer to the U.S. in an alliance.
Japan’s Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi hasn’t visited China since October 2001, even after repeated requests, and without constructive dialogue it will be difficult to make progress. The list of outstanding issues goes on and on, but ultimately China can’t seem to forgive and forget, which leaves Japan scratching its head and wondering what can it do to appease its mighty and irascible neighbour.
The recent situation appeared to be getting further out of hand as both sides engaged in a crude pantomime of recrimination, but then Koizumi issued another apology on 22 April, in an attempt to defuse the crisis. In the future, China will find it increasingly difficult to maintain its air of perpetual grievance when it gets what it wants, but as it grows stronger and more confident, it may try to push further and raise the stakes in this deadly duel.
