The importance of a word and Japan's apology
- By Sumantra Maitra
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, August 14, 2015
Is apology important? And how many times? The short answer is, in a way, yes. It is extremely important, not just because it provides a closure. It helps countries move forward. It bridges rhetorical divides, and promotes cultural mixing and with it, promotes peace. It is also extremely rhetorical, as in it doesn't define policy.
The lesson Japan never learned was from Germany, which after its post-world period actively pursued a continent-wide integration process. Germany shunned militarism, changed the history that is taught in schools, and was the paramount power in defining a post-Cold War European unity.
Japan, however, remains a deeply orthodox, closed society. While Germany welcomed immigrants from the brightest brains to cheap labor to go and settle in Germany, and be Germanized in culture, Japan remains a country deeply xenophobic and skeptical of immigrants, even when its economy is falling, and its population growth is negative and the population is aging. There are minimal cultural exchanges between Japan and its former colonies.
Japan has also shown negligible interest in pursuing an agenda which will help integrate the economies in Asia. In fact, Japan follows an economic alliance system with countries which borders from competitive to adversarial to antagonistic to China, ranging from India to Australia, to Vietnam and the Philippines.
Does China need a Japanese apology? Frankly no, as no country "needs" rhetorical words, and it is actions, prompted by forces of geo-politics, that matter the most. China also need not fear Japan's militarism, because with the benefit of simple logic, one can see the vast difference in strength between China now and China in 1937. Short skirmishes are a possibility, as are regional conflicts, which stem from misunderstandings, but they can be avoided with careful lines of communication. However, one word of apology could prove enormously beneficial in calming the nerves of an entire region, and help improve the perception of a country not known gloriously for its militaristic past. Mr. Abe might need to rethink about it someday.
The writer is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://china.org.cn/opinion/SumantraMaitra.htm
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)