China highly concerned over direction Japan may take

Politics Dec. 18, 2012 - 07:10AM JST ( 47 )

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47 Comments

-4

some14someDec. 18, 2012 - 07:26AM JST

A big challenge or chance for Obama to justify Nobel Peace Prize (!)
-7

gaijinfoDec. 18, 2012 - 07:37AM JST

How soon before he visits the shrine?

Pragmatic strategists these guys are not.
7

KariHarukaDec. 18, 2012 - 07:57AM JST

Finally going to see the effects of all your pushing around.
10

IsthiezakDec. 18, 2012 - 08:04AM JST

China is ready to work with Japan towards stable relations?

Great time to say that, making Japan look like the bad guy.

I don't like Abe, and I'm hoping he doesn't do anything to flare up the situation, but I do hope he stands fast on China's shenanigans.
9

SaketownDec. 18, 2012 - 08:08AM JST

So, Big Bully China is "Concerned". They'd better be... Some Big Changes are coming down the pipeline. Like I said in the previous post, they should've worked with PM Noda when they had the chance. See you on the backend of History China.
8

voiceofokinawaDec. 18, 2012 - 08:08AM JST

Of course, the failure of the Democratic Party of Japan that disappointed the nation in everything from international to domestic affairs must be to blame for the current trend in Japan. But international events develop as a chain reaction to each other. Isn't China responsible at all for Abe and men of his ilk to re-emerge on the front stage?
-7

whiskeysourDec. 18, 2012 - 08:19AM JST

Fear mongering !!!! Nothing more nothing less.

Shinzo Abe will last less tan a year. !!!!

Only thing they should resolve is having a joint oil refinery at the island(s).
12

hereforeverDec. 18, 2012 - 08:26AM JST

I don't believe DPJ was a total failure. Three years is not even time to clean up 50 years plus of LPD's corrupt mess. People just needed to be more patient. Obama is in his fifth years and still cleaning up Bush's mess. I also read in another newspaper that the police are investigating voting irregularities. The article was a bit vague. Anyone have more info on this?
-1

alliswellinjapanDec. 18, 2012 - 08:30AM JST

Keep Ishin quiet, do nothing say nothing, let Aso deal with China, and everything will be OK. There are more important initiatives on the table.
4

FightingVikingDec. 18, 2012 - 08:36AM JST

@hereforever

My thoughts exactly !
0

TamaramaDec. 18, 2012 - 08:51AM JST

China is rediculous, a diplomatic train wreck.

What on earth do they have to be concerned about? This is the same party that has run Japan virtually non stop since the 50's, so it's hardly a new right wing trend.

A given the way China is behaving towards Japan at the moment, their 'concerns' over Japan are deliciously ironic.

Baka.
4

Elbuda MexicanoDec. 18, 2012 - 08:54AM JST

Oooh! China is "concerned" about Japan???? Hahahahaha! Idiots! The Chinese should keep their mouths shut about Japan and worry about feeding their own people, worry about cleaning up all of their rivers, garbage, thrown anywhere and everywhere, oh, about real "nice" guys that get disgusting foul "oil" from the sewage to add to their "cooking" to keep their costs down, which now is a crime punishable by the death penalty, etc..this is just the tip of the iceberg about what many regular Chinese worry about, oh, buying medicine that can end up killing your own children and if you dare try to take them to court, sorry, that company is owned by China Communist Inc.!! So you are S.O.L Shi! out of luck amigos in China! So not "worry" about Japan and try and worry about YOUR OWN MESSED UP COUNTRY, CHINA!
7

tokyo-starDec. 18, 2012 - 08:56AM JST

China are concerned about Abe and his rightish swing, much more than in the past. No doubt triggered by Blinky Four-Eyes.

Agree that DPJ wasn't the train wreck that everyone says they were. I liked Kan and Noda much more than Abe. There was just too much to fix, coupled with an unprecedented disaster all within the same term.
12

OssanAmericaDec. 18, 2012 - 09:01AM JST

"China said Monday it is “highly concerned” over Japan’s future direction under the Shinzo Abe-led Liberal Democratic Party,"

Well then maybe you shouldn't be trying to pull the Senkakus out from under Japan's feet with the "ancient times" nonsense while perpetually harping on WWII or running anti-Japan demonstrations destroying Japanese cars and businesses and injuring innocent people and trashing 40 years of good relations and doing your best to damage Japan economically while building an huge offensive military to bully alll of your Asian neighbors. The hypocrisy of crying about Japanese "right-wing" when China is ALL right-wing is laughable. China, you and you alone put the LDP back in power. The entire world is "concerned" about China as a threat, not Japan.
4

herefornowDec. 18, 2012 - 09:03AM JST

Earlier Monday, Abe, set to become Japan’s new prime minister, said there can be no compromise on the sovereignty of the islands, calling them “Japan’s inherent territory.”

Abe proved the first time in office that he is a weak leader who has said many of inflamatory things over the years, but did not have the actual courage to do anything. I sincerely hope for Japan's sake that his bark continues to be worse than his bite, and that he does not mis-calculate and force the issue with China simply to show he has b*lls. But I think that is a real possibility, since he meekly resigned office before because he literrally did not have the stomach for it, so he may think he has something to prove.
-12

black_jackDec. 18, 2012 - 09:03AM JST

To hereforeever,

The reason that you don't notice the mess that DPJ is that probably becasue you are non-Japanese and don't care if the Japanese sovereignty over its territory is threatened. The DPJ did more damage (a huge one) to the Japanese sovereignty over its disputed islands in just three years than the LDP in the 50 years. They give China a big opportunity to strengthen their stance over the Senkaku and made Chinese intrusion into our waters and airspace an everyday affair. It all started when the loopy Hatoyama worsen the Japanese-American relation of which China took advantage as we know to start their intrusion into the Senkaku area.
-3

JoeBigsDec. 18, 2012 - 09:19AM JST

“We are highly concerned about which direction Japan will take,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters"

Yeah, I too would be concerned if my tools lost their political power.
-3

HollisBrownDec. 18, 2012 - 09:53AM JST

If nothing has changed in the last 3 years, then I say 'DPJ OUT' as we're presumably in the exact same place we were in 2009 when the public overwhelmingly decided the DPJ wasn't good enough to run the country.
-3

HollisBrownDec. 18, 2012 - 09:58AM JST

Ahh...

If nothing has changed in the last 3 years, then I say 'LDP OUT' as we're presumably in the exact same place we were in 2009 when the public overwhelmingly decided the LDP wasn't good enough to run the country.
3

DisillusionedDec. 18, 2012 - 10:04AM JST

China highly concerned over direction Japan may take

So am I!
4

Eve AphaybounDec. 18, 2012 - 10:14AM JST

Oh, the irony.
3

cierzo98Dec. 18, 2012 - 10:32AM JST

@OssanAmerica

so well put.
4

hereforeverDec. 18, 2012 - 10:59AM JST

Black_jack, sorry to say you are wrong. I've live in Japan since 1981, I pay government tax, residence tax, corporate tax, car tax, motorcycle tax, land tax, consumption tax, pension, national health insurance.
6

hereforeverDec. 18, 2012 - 10:59AM JST

Oh, forgot to mention, not allowed to vote.
0

nandakandamandaDec. 18, 2012 - 11:16AM JST

China just woke up and smelled the coffee.
3

caffeinebuzzDec. 18, 2012 - 11:22AM JST

Both sides on this worry me (China more so). The DPJ really did make a mess of so many things, but I still think they needed a bit more time to get their act together. Hopefully being chucked back on the opposition side of things galvanises them a bit and causes them to stamp out a clearer platform. The Japanese people themselves also should take a long hard look at themselves and be a bit more involved at a grassroots level if they want their country to move forward. China, well I don't think they'll settle down any time soon since they need to demonise Japan to keep leadership legitmacy in the eyes of their own people. Japan just needs to play it cool and not let their right-wingers get out of hand and rebut China's posturing with a bit of maturity.
4

FrungyDec. 18, 2012 - 11:33AM JST

Actually it's good that China is concerned. The only thing they seem to respond to is the threat of force (not actual force, just the threat of it). They're like a playground bully who's been pushing around a small kid... and then comes back the next year to find that the "small kid" is grinning a lot and playing with a knife.
5

kiss1969Dec. 18, 2012 - 11:36AM JST

Guys! Why are you all so into bashing these people? China has said they are open to discussion. Let the guys at the top talk it out... Hey, they might reach a satisfactory conclusion for all! If you don't like the way Asia does things, leave! I'm a gaijin here and i have been here for over ten years. I am kind of planted here now with a family. I'm hoping they sort it out. I don't want to leave or live in fear, just like you guys, but i'm not running either. Come on Japan, come on China people are depending on you!
3

kurisupisuDec. 18, 2012 - 11:38AM JST

Japan is concerned about China too no doubt-it is amazing that both Japan and China have so much in common!
1

paulinusaDec. 18, 2012 - 12:10PM JST

Right winger Shinzo Abe elected. China reaped what they sowed.
-2

BertieWoosterDec. 18, 2012 - 12:17PM JST

I agree with kiss1969-san,

China has said they are open to discussion. Let the guys at the top talk it out... Hey, they might reach a satisfactory conclusion for all!

They certainly need to talk.

But I wonder if Abe is up to the task.

He might get an attack of the dreaded tummywobbles again!
2

CrisGerSanDec. 18, 2012 - 12:25PM JST

That is a typical condescending way to express disapproval ...it means nothing really for it says nothing. Japan owns the island. End of story. China wants to look strong. There are better ways to do it. I hope they get smart before they damage their international reputation more. It is looking more and more like China is not ready to join the world of Modern Nations yet.

I will keep hoping. In the meantime, Japan has acted with great restraint yet proper resolve.
3

hotbertaaDec. 18, 2012 - 12:44PM JST

China are playing a clever game, one which I dislike. Its a constant drip, drip of misinformation, aimed at discrediting Japan.
3

gokai_wo_manekuDec. 18, 2012 - 12:48PM JST

In China, "properly handle" means "do it my way or else!"
2

hotbertaaDec. 18, 2012 - 12:52PM JST

@CrisGerSan - the foreign press are reporting the election as a move to the right, highlighting Abe as a nationalist. By saying this China adds an official approval of this speculation, which will turn a mistruth into a truth in the eyes of those who arent paying attention.
0

Tiger_In_The_HermitageDec. 18, 2012 - 12:55PM JST

Its funny how we bag China and say that they are the bullies.... don't get me wrong, they need to act with restraint too. But its Japan our great nation that killed a fraction of the popluation of our neighbours during WWII. So China has the right to be concerned at our military, we don't need American support or protection, we can do that ourself.
0

neobiosDec. 18, 2012 - 02:08PM JST

China has made their move and now it is Japan's turn as they have elected a new leader. Shinzo Abe said there's no room for negotiation and if so what would be the alternatives which is why China is concerned as their next decision would depend on how Abe handle the dispute.

If end up using military force then China and Japan might need to prepare an exit of ties between them where we would see a survival of the fittest kinda similar to the situation between US and Soviet Union where the cold war ended when the Soviets collapsed due to economic problems.

I'm not surprised if China with their economic advantage would want to do something similar to Japan which we have seen a few glimpse since 2010 as economic warfare instead of conventional is the standard these days.
1

aisaiDec. 18, 2012 - 02:31PM JST

hereforeverDec. 18, 2012 - 10:59AM JST Oh, forgot to mention, not allowed to vote.

Only because YOU have chosen to not become a naturalized citizen. If you really want to vote that badly then take the plunge. Obviously not be able to vote hasn't bothered you enough to decide to take that step.
1

crampDec. 18, 2012 - 06:43PM JST

Elbuda MexicanoDec. 18, 2012 - 08:54AM JST

Oooh! China is "concerned" about Japan???? Hahahahaha! Idiots! The Chinese should keep their mouths shut about Japan and worry about feeding their own people, worry about cleaning up all of their rivers, garbage, thrown anywhere and everywhere, oh, about real "nice" guys that get disgusting foul "oil" from the sewage to add to their "cooking" to keep their costs down, which now is a crime punishable by the death penalty, etc..this is just the tip of the iceberg about what many regular Chinese worry about, oh, buying medicine that can end up killing your own children and if you dare try to take them to court, sorry, that company is owned by China Communist Inc.!! So you are S.O.L Shi! out of luck amigos in China! So not "worry" about Japan and try and worry about YOUR OWN MESSED UP COUNTRY, CHINA!

gotcha boss...sounds exactly like mexico then
0

JoeBigsDec. 18, 2012 - 07:10PM JST

Hey atleast the Japanese people can pick who they want to lead them, the PRC rams everything down their people's throats and if they complain the complainers get a boot to the face.

Freedom is great while tyranny is not.
0

SentimentsDec. 18, 2012 - 08:08PM JST

It will be interesting to see what respons this concern leads to. Maybe a little less aggressive attitude, maybe new attempts to badmouth Japan internationally. Or maybe they realize that agressive imperialism is not going to work agaisnt Japan. No doubt in my mind that Japan, if pushed sufficiently, can easily transform to a dragon. Lets support an economic dragons awakening, not a militaristic one.
2

SerranoDec. 18, 2012 - 10:35PM JST

I think a lot of Japanese are concerned over the direction China may take.
0

terminaterhjwDec. 18, 2012 - 11:00PM JST

It's a typical diplomatic expression, do you really think China is concerning, or "worried"? Seriously not.
0

malfupeteDec. 18, 2012 - 11:15PM JST

China concerned because there is possibly one less country they can push around with threats?
0

kevininjapanDec. 19, 2012 - 01:21AM JST

@OssanAmericaDec. 18, 2012 - 09:01AM JST

Well then maybe you shouldn't be trying to pull the Senkakus out from under Japan's feet with the "ancient times" nonsense

Not quite. How about the term of surrender Japan signed at the end of WWII. 'Modern ' enough for you now?

Japan: Senkaku is ours based on history and international law.

China: Diaoyu is ours based on history, geography and international law.

Exactly who has given up on this 'historical' claim? That China has written records from 1403 is part of the problem?

while perpetually harping on WWII or running anti-Japan demonstrations destroying Japanese cars and businesses and injuring innocent people You need to make more sense. China, both Beijng and Taipei, gave up reparation after the war. Next time you might as well take this as the first piece of evidence of their perpetually harping on WWII.

War crimes have been ignored and denied by Abe. That should not be a problem but crimes in China against Japanese interests should be not only dealt with by the police but also paid up by the government according to the victim's wish, right? Do you have any idea how much Japan has looted during the war? Has there been any effort to mend it? Sure, now Japan can say the war has been over for a long time. Next time when a left-over chemical bomb is found and people are hurt, Japan should just say enough is enough. War is over after all.

For your information, no case for war-time compensation from individual Chinese has been upheld in the Japanese court. The reason has always been the no reparation offer made by the Chinese government. Japan interprets the offer as forfeit of any individual claim as well.

and trashing 40 years of good relations and doing your best to damage Japan economically

It supposedly takes two to tangle. After the president of one country warns the prime minister of the other of the potential downfall of his plan, the latter finalizes the plan the very next day. According to you, the consequence is purely the former's fault.

BTW, what damage could China do to Japan if Japan has had no substantial benefit from China for quite some time?

while building an huge offensive military to bully alll of your Asian neighbors.

?

Didn't Japan say if it ever comes to war, Japan can finish China in a matter of days?

What do you say Japan has? Whatever she has, it surely is in line with the constitution and never a threat to others, isn't it?
1

AkariYoshidaDec. 19, 2012 - 03:31AM JST

...If the people who owned the islands were japanese and they sold them to Japan then the islands are Japans
-1

Peter PayneDec. 19, 2012 - 01:40PM JST

This political change was absolutely the result of China's over-reaction to those stupid islands, which belong to Japan in accordance with laws and policies of the U.S. from 1945 until the return of the islands to Japan along with Okinawa. Japan and Korea are both wrong. Not that logic ever entered into things.