Military Alliances to Boost Japan’s Relative Power over China

Recently, Japan, India, and the United States had naval drills in the Pacific Ocean. Japan provided escort vessels. There was a U.S. destroyer, and three Indian warships.

These drills were supposed to be for boosting friendly relationships among the three countries and to improve maritime technique.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has repeatedly called for a four-way alliance among Japan, India, the United States and Australia. His reasoning being this is to counter frequent tension with China according to this news article. I’m not sure what kind of conflict he is referring to; I am guessing military.

In this way, Japan is seeking to ally itself with other countries in order to boost its own power relative to China. After all, China is becoming the new challenger in Asia. Also, Japan is not challenging the U.S. hegemon but seeking to benefit from its power.

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070416/wl_sthasia_afp/japanusindiamilitary_070416061321

Environmental concerns in a Globalized World: Japanese and American Sperm

 The number of boys in Japanese and American populations has declined in recent years, and some believe this is due to chemical polutants’ effects on sperm cells.

In the U.S., the proportion of boys dropped from 105.5 per 100 girls in 1970 to 104.6 in 2001; in Japan, the male-to-female ratio dropped from 106.3 boys for every 100 girls to just fewer than 105 per 100.

As one can see from these statistics, the decline in male versus female births is consistent in both the United States and Japan, therefore it can be hypothesized that this is not a cultural phenomenon. Rather, there most be some other causal factor.

Studies show that environmental pollutants are having a negative affect on the male reproductive system. Environmental toxins may affect the viability of sperm that bear the Y chromosome, which determines sex for male.

Indeed, environmental problems know no political boundaries, and the decline in male births on either side of the Pacific Ocean suggests that there is indeed some environmental toxin hindering the Y chromosome in sperm.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070416/hl_nm/male_births_dc_1

Strong, Inter-connected Economies Strengthening East-Asian Ties

Despite China and Japan being in conflict over Shinzo Abe’s denial of past Japanese sex offenses, Chinese President Wen still came to the major Japanese cities of Tokyo and Osaka with the hope of strengthening economic relations.

 China and Japan find each other to be valuable trade partners. Trade between the two countries has almost quadrupled over the period of ten years.

However, there is some tension with Japan not desiring to give up its position as the strongest economy in Asia. Japan is fearful that China will surpass it in coming years and is thus somewhat reluctant to form policies that will benefit China. In this sense, Japan is acting as a realist by being more concerned with relative gains rather than absolute gains.

The three strongest economies in Asia are Japan, China, and South Korea, and each one of them wishes to see themselves as the economic champion.

source: http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070415/BUSINESS/70414009

艺妓 Even Geishas Blog in the Globalized World!

Caption: Ichimaru, an 18-year-old maiko or young geisha, sits at her computer at a Kyoto teahouse where she has been keeping what is believed to be the first Internet blog by an apprentice geisha, December 2006.

The Japanese are currently the most prolific bloggers in the world, and the fact that this young geisha named Ichimaru is now blogging proves that blogs are an attractive way to express one’s own opinion and feelings to the whole world instantaneously! Indeed, technology is truly a driver of globalization. Let me see if I can find this geisha’s blog and post a link to it!… No, sorry. I looked, can’t seem to find it. If someone does find it, please tell me in a comment.

Please enjoy the picture of the beautiful geisha, but beware, she looks frustrated with the computer, even angry. Anyways, my point is, this individual, being a geisha, would have been secluded not only from her own society, but most definitely the world. Nowadays, the Japanese are really jumping on this whole blogging trend, even the mysterious geisha. I wonder what she blogs about!

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070405/lf_afp/worldusinternetblogs_070405132826;_ylt=Ao22mV8KMyTGIqTjqknN1bkWO7gF

Japanese aid in Iraq disrupting the Balance of World Power

source: http://asia.news.yahoo.com/070330/kyodo/d8o6p0qg0.html

The international state system is often associated with the rise and fall of hegemons and the states who seek to challenge these dominating states. In the current international system, the United States is clearly a hegemonic entity, as can be seen by its powerful economy, overwhelming military might, and predominant influence in international institutions such as the United Nations. Therefore, according to the balance of power theory, other states should be aligning against the U.S. in order to ensure peace and the freedom of individual nations in an anarchic world.

However, Japan has been one of the greatest supporters of the United States in the War in Iraq. In recent years, Japan has sent ground troops ground troops on an aid mission in southern Iraq and air troops to operate between Kuwait and Iraq. While Japan did pull out Japanese ground troops last summer, it has since expanded its air operations. Most recently on March 30, Japan renewed its Air Self-Defense Force deployment in Iraq to provide airlift support United Nations and multinational forces for another two years. The United States excitingly welcomed Japan’s decision of continued support in Iraq.

However, such bandwagoning activity is only a sign that Japanese foreign policy is greatly influenced by the United States. Instead of attempting to assert its own sovereignty, Japan is instead trying to snuggle close to the United States and earn favor for future policy ambitions. In this way, the U.S. hegemon is only being reinforced by states such as Japan who continue to work with the United States even in matters of warfare.

Japanese Peacekeeping Efforts

Source: http://asia.news.yahoo.com/070328/kyodo/d8o53ff80.html

Japan has increased its role in international peacekeeping by announcing its new a counterterrorism operating brigade on Wednesday, March 28. This new division of the Japanese GSDF, or Ground Self-Defense Force, will have 3,200 soldiers devoted to the brigade who specialize in countering terrorism and guerilla attacks.

Japan’s desire to effectively counter terrorism illustrates the aysemmetric nature of post-modern warfare. In other words, Japan is a relatively powerful state in terms of economic standards, yet it is still vulnerable to non-state actors such as terrorists groups.

 Japan is claiming primarily defensive motives for continually increasing military capabilities.  Because rogue actors such as terrorists do not fear being defeated, it is important that Japan create a defense force such as this to promote peace. Japan’s building arms to defend against terrorist groups is different from building them in defense to states because terrorists lack the funds to respond in kind. Rather, the more defense a country like Japan has to prevent terrorist attacks, the more likely the country will be safe. Therefore, Japan has made a relatively intelligent and peaceful move in the international arena.

Japan and Australia Seeking the Preservation of Peace through Liberal Politics

                         LIBERAL   POLITICS    

Source: http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200703140093.html

On Tuesday, March 13, Tokyo and Canberra (Australia’s capital city) agreed to a bilateral cooperation pact that is aimed at dealing with security issues such as those related with North Korea and terrorism.

The security pact agreed upon after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Australian Prime Minister John Howard met at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence. Termed the “Tokyo-Canberra Declaration”, this pact covers anti-terrorism measures, nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction and military cooperation between the two countries overseas. In addition, this pact ensures continued engagements between both Prime and Defense Ministers of Japan and Australia.

Previously, both Japan and Australia had created similar security pacts with the United States. Therefore by agreeing to this pact, Japan and Australia completed a triangular security alliance in the Pacific between the United States, Australia, and Japan.

Clearly, the Tokyo-Canberra Declaration is a product of liberal politics, seeking greater cooperation through institutions such as treaties and engagement between state leaders, rather than a radical approach to politics that would necessitate a power struggle between states.

Interestingly enough, Japan (currently), Australia, and of course the United States are all democratic states, and when viewed through the lense of the Democratic Peace Theory, are states that theoretically should never go to war with one another. Indeed, it is democratic states that are more likely to pursue liberal politics through methods such as creating treaties that promote greater cooperation between countries. Therefore, Japan and Australia are living up to the democratic ideal of cooperation and compromise, rather than resoring to the use of systematic violence in war to pursue international security policy.

Diplomat Michael Jackson: Wooing Japanese Fans

source: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1600092,00.html?xid=rss-world

Caption: Michael Jackson in Tokyo, March, 2007.

In the context of international politics, Celebrities are the bearers of pop culture and thus bind countries together by a common set of underlying assumptions, values, and viewpoints.

Of course, Michael Jackson is in no way a public authority on morality, yet he still is idolized by many in Japan simply because of his great music and fame.

Many fans in Japan were willing to pay high prices to spend no more than 30 seconds with Jackson in a private cubicle just to satisfy their longing to be with this pop-music giant.

Michael Jackson is currently touring Japan and has visited numerous places throughout the country, including Tokyo, where this photograph was taken. Tokyo hosts international music evens on any given weekend including all genres and is especially known for its Jazz performances and clubs.

Perhaps the Japanese’ appreciation of American music helps to bind the United States and Japan together in a way that political treaties can not. This is because common individuals are being exposed and wooed to American individualism and the opportunity to rise to great fame and popularity. Therefore, Michael Jackson is a living, breathing witness of American culture to the Japanese people. In Japan, Jackson wields an amount of soft power perhaps unmatched by any legitimate diplomat and therefore is worthy of mention in Japanese international politics.

The Security Delimma between Japan and North Korea

Source: http://asia.news.yahoo.com/070308/kyodo/d8nntkh00.html

As the trend seems to be, Japan is once again seeking to increase its sovereignty relative to other states. Specifically, Japan wants to arm itself against the possibility that North Korea might carry out a missile strike against Japan.

In August of 1998, North Korea launched a missile over Japan that landed in the Pacific Ocean. Perhaps this event was N. Korea’s attempt to puff out its chest and prove to Japan that it could fight back. i.e. State B (N. Korea) was  just trying to show State A (Japan) that it could defend itself. Yet, as the Security Delimma is played out, as one may have guessed, State A sees State B’s arming of itself and must respond in kind.

Thus, Japan is doing just that by pushing for legislation that will now allow the  defense minister, in the case of a N. Korean missile attack, to use a new missile system that Japan is installing within its borders without the approval of the prime minister.

However, will State B not glance over at State A’s new installments and wince at the thought of being inferior again. Indeed, perhaps Japan’s move will only fuel the N. Korean’s desire to arm itself with even greater weapons. Yet, from a realist point of view, this is merely the inevitable way the game of international relations is played. On the other hand, if Japan and N. Korea could just get along and make agreements and mutual concessions… then the liberals would be overjoyed! As it is, all we have are State A and State B’s hegemonic big brother, the US, to make sure they “play nice”.

Co-op between Japan and India to promote development in SE Asia

Source: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/IC06Dh02.html

Both Japan and India are democratic states who share common goals of improving the impoverished conditions of SE Asia; yet both seem relatively inflexible in their political alignment structures.

While Japan has been heavily influenced by the United States since the end of WWII, especially with its US constructed pacifist policy, India has chosen the route of non-alignment. The result is that India can exert little influence in the international arena because of its neutrality. Japan, on the other hand, has its values and institutions in international affairs influenced by the United States’ foreign policy.

However, India and Japan do share common interests in making South East Asia a safer place for its inhabitants. Japan seeks to deter North Korean nuclear ambitions, while India holds concerns for the impoverished nations that characterize SE Asia. In addition, Japan is the world’s second leading contributor to foreign aid and has sent significant aid to Sri Lanka.

In recent years, Japan has supplied India with more efficient energy technologies and is promoting the spread of more efficient energy sources in developing countries. India would prove to be an important partner to Japan because of its status as a somewhat newly industrialized country. In addition, India is culturally similar to surrounding regions in SE Asia, unlike the US, and thus would be able to generate a more welcoming attitude towards Japanese development assistance. 

To achieve better cooperation, the Prime Ministers of Japan and India have meet several times in 2005 to build a trusting relationship between the two countries. By directing Japan’s economic power through India’s cultural connections, development in SE Asia may improve and perhaps even begin to balance China’s predominant position in Eastern Asia.