Is China the regional power?

[Schumacher]

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i don't think so, i think japan's current position is similar to that of Prussia before unification of germany.. it needed an external enemy, doesn't matter who it is (whether China or North Korea), just need to convince the people to abandon the pacifist constitution and bring the power back to the nationalist.
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I think Japan now is much more similar to Germany after WW1, where instead of being repentant about their role in WW2, they genuinely feel they're the victims & the others were the aggressors.
Just look at the swiftness with which the former defence minister was forced down after uttering a few words about the obvious to many around the world, i.e. the atom bombs were unavoidable. The difference with post-WW1 Germany though was the dangerous views came from the lone dictator up top while in Japan, such views come from the population, forcing the government to sack the defence minister.

 

[flyzies]

Wow, this is an old thread...but very interesting one

I have a problem with this whole "the regional power" thing. I believe for you to be considered a regional power, you have to be IN the region. The US is not in Asia, therefore I would never say it's Asia's regional power. However, the US does have massive INFLUENCE in Asia, so decisions Asian countries govt makes will take US into account.

Now, who is Asia's regional power? Well, I think Japan and China are sharing that title right now.
But in the decades to come there is no doubt China will emerge as the pre-dominant power in Asia. I think Japan politically and economically have reached its limit...of course Japan will still have economic growth, but nothing like the scale like China is having or will have in future. China's economy on the other hand, with its massive workforce and industry base, plus increasing domestic spending, can continue to expand throughout this century.
And when a country's economy grows, its military power naturally grows with it...

 

[Deleted member 675]

I think Japan now is much more similar to Germany after WW1, where instead of being repentant about their role in WW2, they genuinely feel they're the victims & the others were the aggressors.

I think you're talking complete nonsense. Whereas a few Japanese may feel that way, the majority do not. Also most Germans did not think they really lost WWI but that they were "betrayed" by cowardly politicians. On the other hand it's obvious Japan lost the war and hardly anyone would argue they could have won/avoided defeat. Then there's the fact most Japanese don't want another war, whereas post-war Germany was pretty much spoiling for a fight in many ways.

Your comparison fails on so many different levels.

EDIT: I will not make a response to Schumacher below because Gollevainen has indicated to me that there is already too much political discussion on this thread.

 

[Schumacher]

I think you're talking complete nonsense. Whereas a few Japanese may feel that way, the majority do not.

Ah .... Mr Fu, once again dismissing others' views just because u don't like it & offering nothing to back it up. The majority don't ? How do u know ? The response from the Japanese population to his remarks was so fierce he resigned within days. This certainly suggested the majority wanted him gone.
Compare this to Blair & Rumsfeld, who took months & years to be forced to go.

..... On the other hand it's obvious Japan lost the war and hardly anyone would argue they could have won/avoided defeat. ........

Do you read or think before you type ? None said Japan deny they lost. Just that they see themselves as the victims, not the aggressors.

 

[bd popeye]

Gentlemen..This is not a playground to expound your political adgenda/ideas. This thread is susposed to be about the PRC being a regional power..Nothing else. Since this thread seems to be to hot right now.This thread will be CLOSED!!.

All members..Please make your post within the paramiters of the rules..We don't want to warn or ban great members..But we shall if need be...

bd popeye super moderator