| Submit your comments on this article |
| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Japan says China "considerable threat", in new flare-up |
| 2005-12-22 |
| Japan's foreign minister has said China is becoming a "considerable threat" because of its increased military spending and nuclear weapons, in comments that have sparked a fresh row between the neighbors. China is "a neighboring country with one billion people and nuclear bombs whose military spending has been growing by two digits every year for 17 consecutive years," Foreign Minister Taro Aso told reporters. "And the content of that is extremely unclear. If I say what this means, I recognize that it is becoming a considerable threat," he said. Aso, an outspoken hawk appointed in late October, made the comment when asked about the recent remark by Seiji Maehara, the conservative head of the main opposition Democratic Party, that China is a "realistic threat". "As Mr Maehara put it, it is true that (China) is stirring up a threat and worries," he said. China reacted angrily, saying its economic might was benefiting Japan. "As a foreign minister, to so irresponsibly incite such groundless rhetoric about a China threat, what is the purpose?" foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at a regular briefing. "China's development has made commonly acknowledged contributions towards the world's peace and stability, bringing East Asian countries, including Japan, great development opportunities," he said in Beijing. Aso's remarks came just after the release of a new Chinese government paper reiterating that Beijing intends to become a peaceful world power. |
| Posted by:Ebboper Fleretle9768 |
| #11 49pan: The one thing I learned while working and living in Asia is that western logic does not always apply. Logic works much the same anywhere in the world. I think the word you're looking for is values. Non-Westerners have different values and assumptions, and therefore arrive at different conclusions. An American will see two women holding hands in China, and assume they're lesbians. But holding hands is a long-held custom in China. An American movie reviewer will see a gangster movie like "The Killer", where a lot of male bonding occurs, and assume that the protagonists are gay. But this type of male bonding is a staple of Chinese culture and literature. The epitome of this type of relationship is canonized in the 3rd century historical work - Records of the Three Kingdoms - where Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei become sworn brothers. But an American movie reviewer will miss all this because he lacks ... knowledge of Chinese customs. In American movies, Arab Muslims see everyday American women who are assertive and promiscuous. Since the only women who act this way in their home countries are prostitutes, they assume that most American women are prostitutes. The fact is that every culture sees outsiders through the prism of its own experiences and culture. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-12-22 20:51 |
| #10 ZF- Thanks for the history lesson. The one thing I learned while working and living in Asia is that western logic does not always apply. Again I learn this lesson. Thanks |
| Posted by: 49 pan 2005-12-22 19:14 |
| #9 Anyone know if he has a reputation as a loose cannon? Does this statement have the backing of other cabinet members? |
| Posted by: john 2005-12-22 16:53 |
| #8 Article: Japan's foreign minister has said China is becoming a "considerable threat" because of its increased military spending and nuclear weapons, in comments that have sparked a fresh row between the neighbors. This is truly strange. A foreign minister's job is to make nice with the nation's potential enemies. It is the defense agency head's job to talk up foreign threats. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-12-22 16:26 |
| #7 49pan: The real military threat will come in 20 years when the "One child per family" policy matures. As it stands right now I believe the birth rates are at over 70 percent male. When they mature we will have a class of Chinese that will have to expand just for a family base. The young men, with no chance of a family, will join the military and the expansion views will take hold. Chinese males (and males of other nations and ethnicities) have done without for since the beginning of time. The ready availability of marriageable women in the modern era is an aberration. The reasons are as follows - (1) prior to modern medicine, large numbers of women used to die in childbirth, (2) monogamy in China is Western import, meaning that wealthy men used to have large numbers of wives and (3) getting married in China has always involved the payment of a bride-price to bride's family - putting marriage out of the reach of men in the poorest stratum of society. The traditional recourse for men who can't afford to marry is to resort to the services of professionals once every so often. Ethnic Chinese have a complex about dark-skinned ethnicities - if they move south, they'll take the land and expel the population. My point is that China has historical claims from centuries (and millenia) ago - this, and not finding mates for their women, is why they might send their armies south. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-12-22 16:24 |
| #6 Yes, taking the leash off Japan gaurantees an Arms Race. The only bad thing is that we are down wind of them when they start kicking sand on each other. The thought that China "intends to become a peaceful world power" is probably true. I am sure it is on their long term timeline after the "Global Domination" milestone is passed. I think they need a second front opened on them that is both militarily and economically strong. I sense that a new Rising Sun is not in the Chinese equation and would pose a serious distraction that may give a fledgling Chinese middle class the time it needs to develop and rise as a political force. And, I think their is still enough fire in the belly of Japan to get them off their asses to take on the challenge. |
| Posted by: TomAnon 2005-12-22 13:30 |
| #5 Japan is just concerned that China is going to pull Japan's economic power base. The real military threat will come in 20 years when the "One child per family" policy matures. As it stands right now I believe the birth rates are at over 70 percent male. When they mature we will have a class of Chinese that will have to expand just for a family base. The young men, with no chance of a family, will join the military and the expansion views will take hold. If I was Cambodia, Thailand, or the Philippines I would be extremely worried. |
| Posted by: 49 pan 2005-12-22 13:17 |
| #4 Aso's remarks came just after the release of a new Chinese government paper reiterating that Beijing intends to become a peaceful world power. Well, I don't know about you, but I feel better. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2005-12-22 12:24 |
| #3 I'm kinda wondering about this "leash" idea, myownself. You sure about that, TA? Lol. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-12-22 09:24 |
| #2 Think I might run out this afternoon and buy a new Corolla. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2005-12-22 09:22 |
| #1 Pretty soon it will be necessary to take the leash off Japan. Look for another movie, "Return of the Yamato!". So stock up on popocorn and soda. This can only get more interresting. |
| Posted by: TomAnon 2005-12-22 09:07 |