Quote (Hamsterbaby @ Dec 16 2022 10:30am)
Japanese Economy almost took over the United States in the late 70s and 80s.
When that happened the US because of the control she has on Japan beat them back to the ground.
They have the capability of matching China in some way or another.
If the internet and social media was thriving back in the 80s and early 90s.
The Japanese would have suffered a much worse fate from the West compared to what the Chinese are facing now.
Most of the Japanese and Koreans that I personally met have very anti American government sentiments when I was there. Anti American government and not Anti American sentiments ( please note the difference).
If Japan have a chance , they will definitely want to rise again. But they are currently emasculated by the American government in certain areas. They know they are being used as a proxy to contain China.
Therefore , I am more than happy that they develop some sort of Nuclear Weapons. If they do, this will be more than enough to deter any Chinese threat ( which don't exactly ) exist at the moment.
And when Japan's security issue is being rectify. There will be no more reason for Okinawa's air base. And they will sit well with their neighbours and settle problems via diplomacy.
And if you don't realized apart from ( Taiwan ) which is not a country at the moment. Everyone in East Asia have a bone to pick with the Japanese.
The Koreans, the Chinese, 90% of South East Asia apart from Malaysia and Thailand.
In order to overtake the US economy with 200 million fewer people, the Japanese would have to achieve levels of otherworldly technological progress that, if achieved, would make them our deserved overlords. The weak follow the strong.
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Japan is currently one of the most pro-American countries in the world, with 67% of Japanese viewing the United States favorably, according to a 2018 Pew survey;[8] and 75% saying they trust the United States as opposed to 7% for China.[9] In a 2019 Pew survey, 63% of people in Japan named the United States their closest ally, far higher than any other country named by Japanese respondents.[10]
Japan is more pro-American than America is pro-Japan. I chalk that up to ethnocentrism. Americans tend to pick one of the three anglosphere nations (nobody cares about New Zealand) when naming America's #1 ally. But in reality, Japan is by far America's most important relationship.
Everyone "having a bone to pick" is what makes Japan such a good ally. It's hard to defect when doing so leaves you isolated and alone.
As the largest regional power, China would like "diplomacy", as in bilateral negotiations, because they're likely to win those negotiations. Japan's most recent defense paper dropped the line on a "strategic partnership" with China because the Japanese recognize that only in alliance with other great powers can they hope to get a fair shake.
For my part, I am perfectly happy to see Japan chart a more independent course. Japan should protect Japanese interests, and those interests are going to run contrary to Chinese designs on the region.