Article

2005-03-04 China-Japan-Koreas

Jane's: Japan to attend Cobra Gold 2005

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Posted by Steve 2005-03-04 9:10:49 AM|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 If the Japanese were smart, they'd make a big deal about expressing regret to the Thais for WWII in a public ceremony at the Thai Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or similar memorial.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-03-04 9:38:43 AM|| 2005-03-04 9:38:43 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 That's not their way.

Posted by Shipman 2005-03-04 10:21:25 AM|| 2005-03-04 10:21:25 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 To the unease of neighbors which bore the brunt of Imperial Japanese aggression last century, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's government has been edging towards a more meaningful security role in the region and beyond.

Y'all can thank Kimmy Jong for that.

Carry on...

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-03-04 10:40:37 AM|| 2005-03-04 10:40:37 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Actually, Shipman, I wuold not be surprised at all to see the Japanese do exactly as Mrs D. said, or some similar gesture.

They have apologized for WWII to countries in the region. (IIRC, several times to China). Whether China, Korea, etc accept the apology is of course a different issue....

Posted by Carl in N.H. 2005-03-04 11:52:54 AM|| 2005-03-04 11:52:54 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 Is this the exercise that France was not invited to last year? If yes, have they been invited this year?

Posted by trailing wife 2005-03-04 12:02:51 PM|| 2005-03-04 12:02:51 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 I agree with both Carl and Shipman.

In a certain sense the Japanese have been the second luckiest people in the world (to the Americans, of course). The only third world country to successfully transition to the first world. Then catapaulted through the twentieth century as a result of their only defeat at the hands of the benign Americans.

How they handle this will tell a lot about how much they've learned from us in the last 50 years about benign hegemony and whether or not they can be the dominant East Asian power for nearly the indefinite future.

While there is a lot of hand wringing about Chjina becoming a superpower, that is hyperventilation. The danger of China in 2020 is like that of Germany in 1914, seeing that its power has peaked it decides to strike out befor it starts to wane. If Japan plays its cards correctly between now and then, It could be in an excellent position to remain the dominant power for a long time to come.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-03-04 12:09:49 PM|| 2005-03-04 12:09:49 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 werent the Thais more or less on their side in WW2, at least to the point of offering free passage, albeit after being pressured?

Posted by liberalhawk 2005-03-04 3:08:35 PM|| 2005-03-04 3:08:35 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Good question, LH.

Here's an easily-absorbed recap.

Essentially, the Thais had the unenviable position of being the mouse stuck underfoot while the lions fought it out.

Posted by Carl in N.H. 2005-03-04 5:24:42 PM|| 2005-03-04 5:24:42 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 Thailand was allied with Japan in WW2. It wasn't punished after the war becuase of US hostility to European recolonization in Asia.

Posted by phil_b 2005-03-04 6:35:57 PM|| 2005-03-04 6:35:57 PM|| Front Page Top

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