Lite Beer Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 PEOPLE IN THE NEWSMaking the right connections BANGKOK: -- Japanese ambassador to Thailand, Shiro Sadoshima discusses the lessons learned from WWII and explains why he doesn't see China as a threat Named Japan's ambassador to Thailand in March this year, Shiro Sodoshima has been kept busy since his arrival undertaking his stated mission of boosting valued Thai-Japanese relations amidst China's growing influence in the region. A former ambassador to Bangladesh and a keen amateur painter, he recently sat down for a chat with Suthichai Yoon, adviser to Nation Multimedia Group. Excerpts:This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki incidents. What lessons has Japan learned?That you should never fight a war. There were many casualties involved not only from Japan but also from many other countries. More than three million Japanese lost their lives during the war and all our citizens are determined never to repeat that again. My wife came from Hiroshima while my mother came from Nagasaki so I was told a lot about the tragic events... even as a small child I was shocked.After the war, we established a policy not to exercise our military power overseas. We are now a democratic country and the people have the right to tell the government what to do and what not to do. That's been observed over the past several decades.What about Japan's recently proposed constitutional change to allow the country to arm itself? Is that a step in the right direction?The current administration has introduced another turn in a long-held policy, which would allow our self-defence force to exercise power when allies are under attack. Now, it's time for us to go back to the normal position - before this there were some policy constraints.Could this not provoke China into thinking that Japan is militarising itself?Please take a look at what we're doing. That's not the case. We don't even have long-range bombers or missiles or aircraft carriers or the kinds of weapons through which you project power far from Japan. The facts spell out that our basic policy orientation has not been changed.The most important point is that the people control the government. Of course there are a small number of right-wing people (who may say we have to fight China), but I don't think they're the majority.What's your personal view of Japan-China relations? Is there a solution to the conflict in the East China Sea?I truly believe that the governments of both countries are in a position not to exercise any force. Armed confrontation would not solve any problem and both China and Japan are clever enough to deal with the situation even though relations sometimes get tense.You are one of your country's Chinaexperts. You speak Chinese fluently soyou know what China is thinking and what Japan is thinking. What is the solutionto the Japan-China issue?We had good relations in the pastfollowing the normalisation(of diplomatic relation). There isno reason to believe that we can'tgo back to that.The new white paper of Japan's Defence Ministry is quite critical of China.It says that everyone should observe the rule of law at sea because Japan needs to secure this sea route to connect with many parts of the world.You don't think China is a threat (to Japan)?No, I don't think so…for the moment.Do you see Japan lagging behind in its relations with Thailand and other Asean countries vis-a-vis China? Do you have to fight China's influence in Thailand?The media tends to misperceive the situation. For example, construction projects that are taking place not only in Thailand but also in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia, are the fruits of economic development. We have done a lot of things and even China could use (those benefits).Thailand, for example, takes the driver's seat and as long as it navigates in a desirable way, no one gets off course. My mission is not to compete (with China).China is very aggressive in coming up with proposals, among them the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which Thailand is joining. Japan however is influential in the Asian Development Bank (ADB). How do you balance the Chinese influence?Your argument is valid only if you regard this as a zero-sum game. It's not. Thailand is going up the ladder and becoming a more sophisticated economy. It's a win-win game. We don't have to counter-balance.China's "One Road, One Belt initiative": Is it good or bad?I don't think it's bad. Perhaps it's like us - we're also trying very hard to expand our business horizons. We have invested overseas in the region in Taiwan, Korea, China, Vietnam and so on. We have also started large-scale investment in the Indian sub-continent to connect East Asia, Southeast Asia and now South Asia. Connectivity is the key. Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/aec/Making-the-right-connections-30267738.html -- The Nation 2015-08-30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noitom Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 What did the Japanese have to say about reparations for Unit 731? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seastallion Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 What did the Japanese have to say about reparations for Unit 731? Ha! Ask the Americans, not the Japanese. The US excused Unit 731 for the US's own gain. ("Instead of being tried for war crimes, the researchers involved in Unit 731 were given immunity by the U.S. in exchange for their data on human experimentation"). Besides, what about Nagasaki and Hiroshima? Wildly off-topic, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seastallion Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I like this guy. Everything he says, and his resume, speaks to a considered, smart, caring person. A top diplomat, make no mistake he could outwit many, but he seems to have his head and heart in the right place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoePai Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Q : You don't think China is a threat (to Japan)?A : No, I don't think so…for the moment. ... but he knows China will be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudcrab Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 More than three million Japanese lost their lives during the war How many Chinese were slaughtered previously? Read up on the rape of Nanking. The Chinese have very long memories. Glad I'm not Japanese....it's not going to be good for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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