Self-imprisonment<\/p>\n
The strong criticism of Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka
\nMachimura of China just one day after a reconciliatory summit
\nbetween Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chinese President Hu
\nJintao in Jakarta on Saturday, poured cold water on the efforts
\nby the two leaders to warm up relations between the two Asian
\ngiants.<\/p>\n
In a retaliatory move, Machimura accused Chinese schools of
\nindoctrinating their students with an unbalanced view of the
\npast. With no intention of debating the substance of the
\nminister's statement, we would like to raise a simple question:
\nIs it wise to say such a thing at this time?<\/p>\n
Machimura's statement was clearly counterproductive because
\ninstead of trying to cool down the situation he could -- quite
\nunnecessarily -- trigger another harsh reaction from the Chinese
\ngovernment. Only a day after his prime minister tried very hard
\nto control the damage caused by the history textbook controversy,
\nMachimura sent a defiant message to those who oppose the books.
\nIt would be wiser if other Japanese leaders refrained from making
\nsuch comments.<\/p>\n
Reporters who covered the meeting between the President and
\nthe Prime Minister on Saturday, described how Koizumi greeted an
\ninscrutable Hu with a two-handed shake when they began their
\nbilateral summit. Their conversation was clearly frank as was
\nreflected by Hu's later released five-point demand to Koizumi,
\nincluding a warning that Japan should be honest with its history.
\nIt was likely to have been a tough meeting for the two.<\/p>\n
One day earlier, in his speech at the Asian-African summit,
\nKoizumi apologized to the victims of his country's colonial rule
\nand aggression. Although it was not the first time Japanese
\nleaders expressed their remorse, his courage to repeat the
\napology in front of the gathered Asian and African leaders is
\nlaudable.<\/p>\n
In the speech and media briefing, Koizumi emphasized how
\ndramatically Japan had changed during the past 60 years and how
\nthrough its economic power, including its Official Development
\nAssistance (ODA) fund, Japan has contributed to improve the
\nworld's prosperity.<\/p>\n
Koizumi pledged to increase Japan's ODA from 0.2 percent of
\nthe country's total Gross Domestic Products (GDP) to the ideal
\n0.7 percent. Although the Japanese economy is still declining,
\nits position as world's second-most powerful economy remains
\nunchallenged.<\/p>\n
Almost 60 years have passed since the defeat of Japan and
\nGermany in World War II. Germany has set the record straight with
\nmost of the victims of its war aggression. Why, one may ask, does
\nJapan allow itself be haunted by the past? Why is its version
\nabout the war in its history textbooks still unacceptable to
\nmany?<\/p>\n
Other nations cannot help if Japan does not have enough
\ncourage to make good its past misdeeds. Other nations may see
\nJapan as lacking maturity if it continues to cover up or gloss
\nover the worst details of its colonial period to younger
\ngenerations.<\/p>\n
The world, including China and South Korea, needs a strong
\nJapan. Japan has proven to the world that it could successfully
\ntransform into a peaceful and responsible nation and, with its
\nprosperity, it has also helped many other nations.<\/p>\n
Why is it so difficult for Japan to free itself from its past?
\nOnly the Japanese people can answer this question. But one thing
\nis for certain, the ghost of history will continue to haunt them
\nunless they can find it in themselves to dispel it.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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