Japan and China's Rivalry for Leadership in East Asia, Asia, and Beyond - Essay Example

Despite their deep economic ties and a doubling of their bilateral trade in the past five years, the relationship of China and Japan is increasingly strained, with dangerous implications for the United States and the world at large”. The rivalry between these countries started since World War II and continues till today. The prime reason for this being one of the said nations always remained superior to the other. Before the 19th-century china was the superpower and with the restoration of the Meji constitution Japan started gaining importance. However, China fought Japan by seeking economic assistance from Germany before World War II, but during World War II Japanese did many atrocities to the Chinese population which strengthens the rivalry between the two.

Internal and external politics of both countries

China being a republic nation possesses its national military force known as the People’s Liberation Army which controls its sea, air, and land territories in a unified manner.PLA was founded in 1927, and has more than 3 million members, and is counted as the world’s powerful military force. Moreover, the Chinese republic is currently growing as the biggest manufacturer and exporter of goods and services in the current international market. The rapid growth of China in the economical and social field has stunned the devolved as well as developing nations. The internal political scenario of China is very brittle and is struggling to survive the provocation of war as a communist regime. Even though, the economical status of the country is booming the republic is facing extreme provocation and threat to consider war with its competitor countries.

About a decade ago the country called Japan was economically growing at such a rate that it out rated the growth of the U.S.A and other advanced industrially civilized nations. However, its economic growth was also creating resentment abroad and this was resulting in economic disputes and demands to stop its free trade system. The country instead of focusing on military resources, concentrated highly on economic activates and grew larger as the world’s strong economic nation with living standards better than America. Unfortunately, currently, Japan is suffering from recession and depicts stagnant growth. As per,(Branigan, T,2010)“The most significant issue in recent domestic politics is the public’s growing dissatisfaction with LDP rule.  The ruling LDP-Komeito coalition will probably remain in the minority in the Upper House at least through the next election in 2010”.Meanwhile, the military system of the country is strong and is called the Japanese Self Defense Force and was formed after the occurrence of World War II.

Relationship and power of both the countries

The political and socio-economical scenario of both China and Japan has always been highly frictional. On many grounds, these countries constantly raised conflict and the relationship status of both the countries is at a very compromising and vulnerable state. The economical activities between the countries are at threat and the Chinese government is accusing Japan of destroying the bilateral relationship among both countries. There is also the widespread notion that superpower America also provoking these two countries to initialize a war. (Tadahi, Y.2008)writes that “The countries are locked in an increasingly tense row over Japan's detention of a Chinese captain after his trawler collided with a coastguard vessel near disputed islands. China's premier Wen Jiabao this week threatened further retaliation if the man was not released” This very well demonstrates that the relationship among both countries is very fragile and vulnerable and chaos can break out at any point.

Japan being the largest economic power has a strong alliance with the U.S. and the farmer’s investment in America is huge. In addition to this Japan has a strong U.S. military deployment in their country to safeguard their internal and external security. On the contrary, when considering China, the relationship it holds with the U.S. is not very welcoming as the growing phase of china is a matter of jealousy for America. China is growing rapidly in all fields and the U.S. is getting threatened as to their economical and national security and there are chances of sparks developing between them. Finally considering the history and future of China and Japan, the former is a bigger threat to the U.S than Japan. Read More