Japan Policy Towards Greater Asian Economic Community in 21st Century
Japan, the “Country of the Rising Sun” known as former ally of Nazi Germany and today as a democratic country which achieved a status of the second largest economy has experienced in recent days serious financial problems. The financial crisis together with increasing public debt of Japan triggered a desperate situation for Japan. It was necessary to act quickly and to tackle the financial problems of Japan. Firstly, during the election in Japan which took place in 30th August, DPJ surpassed LDP; LDP ruled Japan since 1955 without interruption. LDP was accused for being creator of this crisis which is now eating Japan like a hungry monster. The people gave chance to a new political side which under Yukio Hatoyama is promising fatal changes in Japan’s economy, and to establish the age of Asia.
The task for new political side is tough in order to erase the growing public debt which now already reached the 180% of Japan GDP. DPJ came with multiple new plans and listed the problems which are needed to be tackled. Restructuring civil service, tackle the problem of aging population of Japan, effort to develop mutual relations with China and concentrate more on relations with China than with USA, encouraging immigration, more open to international finances, developing stronger domestic market, ending the wasteful spending, and pursue the national interest are truly great plans how to deal with recent problems. There is another plan which is based on cooperation with other Asian countries especially with Pacific ones. This plan is the resurrection of the old policy which Japan was using during Second World War. It is the resurrection of old plan called “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”.
This plan started officially in 1940 during Second World War when the Japanese Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe wanted an international sphere of international order based on prosperity. Official declaration came in the year 1942. It was supposed and looked at the beginning as Japanese type of fighting against Western Colonialism by seizing Asian states under its own rule and create new order in East Asia. This plan included China, Manchukuo, and several parts of South East Asia. More specifically this vast Japanese plan included; India together with Indian Ocean, Burma, Borneo, Saigon, Thailand, Sumatra, Bangkok, Malaya, Indochina, Manchuria, Nanjing, Chinese Republic, Philippines, Celebes, Java, Singapore, Shanghai. It was of course more likely a colonization made by Japan and the whole Co-Prosperity Sphere was operating to satisfy the desires of Japan Empire. The desire of Japan government and military to control the vast block of Asian nations was based on fact that it wanted to make the Asia free of Western Power. The slogans saying that there will be prosperity and peace among Asian countries were present everywhere in the vast body. Those Asian countries it said will be protected under Japanese rule and the truth is that many Asian countries preferred the fact to be controlled by Japan in economic prosperity program rather than under West. Japan was proclaiming that with this program the Western exploitation and colonialism will end for good. As a matter of fact the Asian countries willingly transferred to another kind of exploitation and colonialism. It was a clear manipulation which served the wishes of Imperial Japan and in all those countries there were puppet governments which served truly well to Japan. It served well to wishes of Japanese military in order to accomplish naval operations in Indian Ocean. This body was actually created from a Japanese financial imperialism which was called “Yen Diplomacy” or “Yen Bloc” and tried to justify all the negative actions done by Japan to East Asian countries. It was about to make an ideal among occupied countries by Japan to think that it is an Asian version of Europe in 1940s. Japans saw themselves all the time before the end of Second World War that their race is superior to other Asian races. Many Japanese politicians and writers proclaimed that Japan should pursue the “Manifest Destiny” to become the leader of Asian countries. This was the cultural reason why the sphere was created. Japans treated the countries under this sphere with certain taste of racism and yet those countries preferred Japan colonialism more than Western Countries. The economic reasons were very important and simple. Japan needed sources from those countries. For example; rubber from Indochina and oil from Dutch East Indies Japan truly demanded because those raw materials were due to US and Europe embargo supplied to Japan in not satisfactory amount. Finished products from other Asian countries were welcomed in Japan and were another significant economical reason why Japan announced Asian Economic Community. The political reason is considered to be that Japan thought if Europe can have colonies in Asia than the same right had Japan. Japanese politicians wanted to acquire new colonies under this sphere in order to get international prestige like England or France, and become first rate country. Japan ruled the colonies under sphere really significantly with the style of using it as propaganda for both Japan and also other Asian countries. Japan set up as mentioned above puppet governments which proclaimed the propaganda in colonized states. The motto was “Asia for Asians” and Japan knew that this sphere as propaganda would be powerful in order to fight and make Asian countries free from European intervention. One might think that this was the main reason why the sphere was created. Japan tried to create a huge dislike against Western World in Asian countries and the Co-Prosperity zone with vast propaganda program was a great weapon how to accomplish that task. One might even think that this zone was a part of military plan how to fight against Allies during Second World War. At the end the history of this body would appear that whole Co-Prosperity zone in East Asia was serving more for military and anti-propaganda purposes rather than creating shining future of the East Asian community in order to bring prosperity and raise economy. Greater Co-Prosperity Zone was at the end the failure which could not exist after Second World War. The problem was that the whole system of this historical body was badly managed. The philosophy with which Japan worked and which implemented in East Asian countries was the reason why the Community ceased to exist and resulted to be a failure. According to many historians this body was predicted to not exist for a long time because the Japan military and politics ruled it in a way which should be blamed. Everything was managed to satisfy Japan and all the matters everywhere in community had to be managed in a Japan way. Pursuing of just one destiny in a whole body in every country included; Japan destiny. Japan demanded without any regard to cultures of other East Asian countries full Japanization. Those aspects made people of colonized states eager and roots of nationalism appeared in those states. Many people who tried to oppose Japan were killed in forced labor or executed right away. This proves that Greater Co-Prosperity Zone during Second World War was just Asian form of oppressive imperialism which was sometimes even worse than western. Those all negatives were the reason why historical version of this community ceased to exist. The community which was about to serve just one country and was missing the spirit of international body. If Japan pursued the propaganda slogan “Asia for the Asians” then this historical body might even exist today.
Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Zone was not successful during the time of its existence, however, in the year 2005 there were established negotiations with Asian countries especially those from Pacific about creating a modern and democratic version of Greater Co-Prosperity Zone which will be more united and stronger; the East Asian Community. The concept of East Asian Community was brought up by Hatoyama already in the times before he became Japanese prime minister. East Asia is yet under the influence of USA. However, this idea did not start with Hatoyama; it started already with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. With Hatoyama it seems that Japan will move in a new direction which could be called international, more open, and independent. With the plan to accomplish the creation of the body in 2015 Japan is seeing this community as the means of future economic development of Asian region. The fact is that with increasing years the passion for new co-prosperity zone is increasing as well. The reason for increasing passion of Japan for recreating co-prosperity zone is the fact about fast development of regional economics. The regional economics of East Asian region already experienced rapid growth and Japan know that with financial cooperation and strengthened international trade with this region would be the first crucial step how to get out of the huge public debt of 180% GDP even during the time of financial crisis. This mutual cooperation as a start of Co-Prosperity Zone would fast economic growth for all states in program. Second reason would be that resurrection of Greater Co-Prosperity Zone would help Japan to fully operate in order to follow national interest. Japan was after Second World War occupied by USA, during the time of Cold War their bounds got more intense but with the end of Cold War the USA did not need Japan that much anymore so Japanese economy started to experience financial slow growth and sometimes even recession. Japan under USA was never fully independent diplomatically and economically; it’s foreign and defense policies were depending on the US policy which was towards Japan. Japan now feels in those days that its national security is not saved much when their ally USA is making marches in Middle East. For that reason, Japanese policy is pursuing to create more independent relationship with USA to promote its safer status on international field and enhance its influence in East Asia and fully pursue national interest. The idea of recreating the old Co-Prosperity zone is also attractive to China because China is realizing in recent days that deepened mutual cooperation with Japan would bring more profits (Japan is already the importer number one of Chinese finished goods), multipolar international environment in East Asia would bring safety and diplomacy among all the members which will be in East Asian Community. This community would benefit the political and economical policies of both Japan and China. For Japan foreign policy it is important to make this idea attractive for China because Japan is already moving towards to become close partner of China with the recognized reality that China might in near future become the most powerful country in the world. Hatoyama’s goal to ease bad relations between Japan and China with the creation of community is part of his foreign policy plan. This is the policy of pursuing the plan to create new China-Japan ties. It appears in many theories that the main reason of making co-prosperity body in East Asia is the passion of Japan to operate together with mighty China in an international body where their economies could merge together. No wonder that China now replaced US as the main economic partner of the Japan. Japan also sees China as a source of powerful military. This is very crucial fact for the security policy of Japan. With China on its side in one organization in which Japan might be leader or reasonable founder; then Japan might fully pursue its national interest, gain back their lost power, erase the public debt effectively, and make sure that its national security is well protected. Japan is pursuing a plan to make South Korea to become the member as well. With Chinese and South Korean vital economies the community has chances to operate effectively and to gain unthinkable prosperity within body. Japan foreign policy is promising to South Korea that their capital city Soeul might gain high international position. South Korea as a member of co-prosperity community will be crucial for Japan because if North Korea will be democratized and unified with South Korea then there will be more economic opportunities for Japan and the means of security in the Eastern Asian region will increase together with the economy. Japan will also try to improve its reputation in East Asia where during Second World War the first Co-Prosperity Zone served just the needs of Japan and angered occupied East Asian states. The plan which Hatoyama is pursuing is to cooperate fully with China mainly in economic field where Japan can reach new business standards and to make the community as big as possible. Hatoyama wishes that East Asian Community will have and operate with 13 members. Those are the countries which are in ASEAN including powerful three partner countries.The ASEAN countries agreed the idea in order to bring more regional cooperation among more countries. Members of ASEAN are Brunei Darussalam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The fact is that there are many disagreements dealing with the reality of different economic development, human rights, different political systems, and respect of the national sovereignty of the possible member states. ASEAN states together with non-Asian countries would give a vast number of members for East Asian Community; in order to operate such huge body Japan foreign policy is now pursuing to adopt as many aspects of EU governing style and structure.This idea is not attractive to many ASEAN states and might be an obstacle to create community in deadline of 2015. For example, ASEAN countries wish to have equal voting system in this future body; the actual voting system where weight of the vote depends on the size of the population and on the size of economy of the country. Equal voting is different where strong and weak states have the same weight of the vote. Japan will have to negotiate with ASEAN member countries about arranging voting system of East Asian Community and yet keep the structural and political system of European Union. There is the need to make ASEAN states concerned; if this will happen then the vision to accomplish the task in 2015 would become a reality. Integration between ASEAN states and other countries which are potential future members of East Asian Community must be performed in the highest degree of centrality in order to accomplish mutual cooperation in order to reach highest prosperity among all future members. Further he wants that this community will include even non-Asian countries which are Australia, New Zealand, and India. Hatoyama also likes the idea that there will be place for Russia as the member of the community due to its rich amount of natural resources and potential to bring non-Asian goods into the community which might be demanded.The hidden reason would be that membership of Russia would bring to community and to Japan vast military and nuclear power. The membership of Russia has a deep potential to make the community of the strongest bodies in the international field. Why so many members even in non-East Asian region? Japan is an island state which is not rich on natural resources. Those natural resources are very important for Japanese economics and to keep its status of second largest economy in the world. During Second World War one might think that Japan was at the end calling the body “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Zone” because Japan government wanted to hide its exploitation of East Asian states from those resources. Recent ASEAN members are post occupied states by Japan in most cases and during the Second World War those countries were exploited by Japan from their natural resources like is petroleum for example. If there will be East Asian Community than Japan would be able to gain those resources from East Asia again; the goal of Japan policy towards East Asian states is clearly based on the need of natural resources. The powerful members like China, South Korea or non-Asian possible members are important in the matters of economy policy, foreign policy, security policy and gaining an independent status from US. The goal is to gain mutual trust and solidarity among all countries in East and Southeast Asia, if this goal will be accomplished then the creation of community will trigger sooner or later and the rapid economic growth in all states will accelerate. This would mean one thing for Japan; the absolute independence of Japan from USA’s influence. This idea is nowadays so stressing for US that it is against the formation of such body or in the condition that USA would become member as well. Now under dependence of US where are still traces of financial meltdown, the Japanese economical security might be endangered. The community as the key of full independence would bring an economical security for Japan. In Hatoyama’s opinion the East Asian Community will signify a new phase for Asia.
The future of East Asian community is unknown. There might be East Asian states reluctant to recreate the old Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity zone due to fact that in past it was nothing more than exploitation community which served to fulfill just Japan destiny at the price of leaving East Asia in exploitation and uncertainty. There is also enthusiasm from many ASEAN member states to create more Asian international body which might bring prosperity to strong and weak states in one time. Hatoyama’s government is now in process of creating plan which could satisfy all potential future members in order to create community in the year 2015. Japan sees this democratic step as the movement towards greater Asia where Japan will improve its reputation to many East Asian states, reduce rapidly its public debt and be able to keeps its status as second largest economy, and become independent country with its own certain security. The main goal of the community seems to satisfy all its future members in the matters of security and economy and to make Japan together with Asia more open for West. The membership of China is the most crucial advantage of whole East Asian Community because then Japan would be able to strengthen its bound and relations with China for good. Possibility that South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, and Russia will become members is giving to community the potential to become one of the most powerful organizations on the international field. Japan, China, South Korea, and Russia in one international body where Japan might be leading member would give to Japanese government a weapon to leave the influence of US forever and transform Asia into most powerful region far surpassing US and Europe. Only time will tell what will happen in next five years.