Why Asia largely backs Japan’s defence boost despite its ‘history of aggression’
- Many of Japan’s neighbours have not publicly opposed its surge in defence spending – except China
- The lack of robust response towards a nation with a former militaristic past may be due to the soft power and goodwill Japan has cultivated over decades
This lack of opposition is largely due to the changing geopolitical environment and the anxieties of regional countries towards Beijing’s rising influence in the region.
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But their lack of robust response towards a nation with a former militaristic past may well be due to the positive image and goodwill that Japan has garnered over the decades.
It may even have to do with the recent apology by the head of a major Japanese departmental store chain over damaged Christmas cakes.
Predictably, China called the significant hike in Japan’s defence spending “a very dangerous development” that had led to serious doubts among “Japan’s Asian neighbours”.
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Is Japan “genuinely committed to an exclusively defence-oriented policy and a path of peaceful development?” Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Wang Wenbin asked.
Accusing Japan of “hyping up regional tensions to seek military breakthroughs”, Wang also called on Tokyo to “earnestly reflect on its history of aggression”.
While China’s sense of encirclement in recent months by the US and its allies is understandable, the “serious doubts among Japan’s Asian neighbours” can hardly be felt.
Instead, “Japan’s Asian neighbours” are standing in line to strengthen defence arrangements with Tokyo.
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Of course, regional countries – many who are victims of past Japanese atrocities – are aware of Tokyo’s “history of aggression”. However, their impressions of Japan have been vastly altered over the decades due to the country’s astute hard power and non-state-managed soft power.
Since its emergence as a global powerhouse, Japan has become a leading source of trade, investments, development help, technological transfers and infrastructure development for countries in the region.
Culturally, Japanese cinema, cuisine, television programmes, anime, manga, video games and music have become well-loved, alongside widespread admiration of Japanese social discipline and corporate ethics.
Just witness the heaps of praises many netizens lavished on senior Takashimaya executive Kazuhisa Yokoyama, who bowed and apologised during a new conference last month.
His corporate “crime”: pre-ordered online frozen Christmas cakes, which customers said arrived damaged, melted, lopsided or crumbled.
In the annual survey of Southeast Asian states conducted by Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Japan remained the region’s most trusted power, with 54.5 per cent believing that it would “do the right thing” to contribute to global peace and governance.
The goodwill and responsible global image Japan has garnered has clearly overshadowed its militaristic aggression during the World War II and indicates that a country can successfully alter its post-war image.
That responsible global image has even helped the former aggressor gain acceptance for moves that can typically be linked – especially by Beijing – to Tokyo’s former militaristic past.
Maria Siow is a senior correspondent at the Post’s Asia desk.
