China-Japan Conflict - Essay Example

?China-Japan Conflict Introduction (Perlez) China-Japan Conflict over the ownership of Senkaku/Diaoyu islands is causing big threat to global peace and harmony. Many people believe that this problem is getting worse at present and the possibilities of a military intervention are in the horizon. As in the case of many other global issues, America’s foreign policy is making the problems worse. America is trying to catch the fish from the muddy water as far as China-Japan Conflict is concerned. China and Japan are rapidly emerging economies in Asia at present. As per the assumptions and predictions among political observers, China may replace America from the superpower post in near future itself. It should be noted that communism is prevailing in China whereas Japan is a democratic country. Naturally, America’s policies are more aligned more in favour of Japan rather than China. “Its approach seems to have been "planned by bookworms and entrepreneurs, rather than politicians” (Jingsheng). America knows that a war between Japan and China would slow down the progress of China considerably and hence they are not doing anything to ease the tensions between these countries. This paper analyses the China and Japan confrontation over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands through the lenses of Classical Realism and Neorealism. Key facts Japan annexed the islands in 1895 China started showing interest in them only in the early 1970sNo one has lived in any of these two islands after WW2 These two islands are very small in size The islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China China’s interest in the islands rose in the late 1960s, when scientists began saying the nearby seafloor could hold oil deposits (Fackler) The current tensions began earlier this year when the nationalist governor of Tokyo announced his desire to buy three of the islands from their owner, a Japanese citizen (Territorial dispute involving Japan) Predictions of Realist theory and Neorealist theory Realism explains the relationships between nations in terms of power. In realist theories power is defined as capabilities that can create influence. Military force is perceived as the most important element of power by realists. States with higher power always use its power for getting leverages in a bargaining process. However, strategies and other parameters also have the ability to influence the outcome of a negotiation or barging process (Chapter Summary). Realist theories believe that self-interest is the primary objective which drives international politics. It argues that international systems are highly anarchic, a concept which believes that there is no universal sovereign government which can resolve international disputes. Neorealist theories argue that states by their nature are security seeking. In other words, security and survival are the primary objectives of each state. Another concept of neorealist theory is that states seek only relative security in comparison to other states (Bordner, p.1). Neorealism argues that there are only three possible systems in international politics; a unipolar system, bipolar system and multipolar system. In their opinion, bipolar system is more stable than multipolar system because of the greater balancing act it can provide. Neorealism believes that war is inevitable and permanent peace is only a distant dream because of the anarchic structure of current international system. Classical Realist explanation of the China-Japan island confrontation  “The value of the islands has never been in their aesthetics, but in history and geopolitics: what control of the islands says about the relative power of Asia’s two economic giants, one rising and the other in what many see as a slow decline”(Fackler). China is one of the rapidly emerging economies in the world at present. Many people believe that China may expel America from the superpower spot in near future itself. In fact no other country in the world at present is capable of matching the economic growth of China. In fact the recent recession failed to cause much problems in China even though it caused huge problems in America like countries. In short, China’s power in international systems is growing day by day. On the other hand, Japan’s case is slightly different. Recent tsunami attacks and other internal problems are causing big headaches to the economic growth in Japan. For example, automotive industries contribute heavily to Japan’s economic growth. However, Toyota and Honda like companies forced to withdraw millions of vehicles from international markets because of technical problems. Moreover, the Fukushima nuclear reactor accident forced Japan to close down many of its nuclear reactors. Thus energy crisis is a big problem for Japan at present. In short, the growth prospect of Japan is comparatively less than that of China at present. China is exploiting this situation very well. In Asia, it should be noted that Japan was causing huge problems to China until a couple of decades before in terms of political leadership. However, China has major role in Asian politics at present. Majority of the countries in Asia are in good relations with China at present after watching the huge economic growth in China. America’s war on terror has created more enemies than friends for them in Asia. Even though Japan continues to be their closest ally in Asia, America wants good relations with China to exploit the growing Chinese markets. It should not be forgotten that China is one of the prominent countries in terms of cheap labour and many of the American companies are currently operating from China to exploit the cheap labour available there. Under such circumstances, America has many limitations in acting against the will of China in the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands dispute. Even though, America is considered as the world police at present, it is impossible for them to persuade China to settle its disputes with Japan. China’s military power is superior to that of Japan. It is easy for China to defeat Japan in a war since China has the advantage of nuclear arsenal and superior military force. However, many people believe that America may not stay idle if China tries to enforce its military power upon Japan. It is believed that global wealth is currently shifting from America and Europe to Asia. Therefore America has more interests in Asian politics at present than before. Neorealist explanation of the China-Japan island confrontation  Neorealist theories argue that states are security seeking. It is a fact that the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands dispute is going to be a big security threat to Japan. Strategically, Chinese presence near Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands is no good for Japan’s security in the long run. Moreover, it is assumed that oil resources are abundant around Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands. Since energy crisis is a big problem everywhere in the world, it is impossible for Japan to avoid their claims over these islands. As mentioned earlier, Japan is currently struggling to find enough energy sources. It will be suicidal for them to avoid their claims over these islands to maintain global peace and harmony. Unipolar system is prevailing in the present world after the destruction of former Soviet Union. China’s rapid growth may change the current unipolar system into a bipolar system in near future itself. In such circumstances, China’s claim over Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands may get more prominence and America cannot stay idle while watching China’s effort to expand its territories in Asia using muscle power. Classical Realist prediction for the outcome “For Japan and China, what began as a seemingly minor dispute is quickly turning into a gathering storm, military analysts and Western diplomatic officials warn, as each country appears determined to force the other to give ground’ (Perlez). Even though the possibility of war is distant, many people believe that it is impossible to rule out those possibilities completely. China has superior military power and they may use it to establish their supremacy in Asia. It should be noted that China fought with India twice in the past and a considerable portion of Indian lands are still under the control of China. Moreover, China still raises claims over some of the Indian states. America is not interfering positively in these disputes. America’s reluctance may serve as a motivation to China to conquer these islands. In short, a military conflict cannot be ruled out in terms of classical realist theories. Neorealist prediction for the outcome As mentioned earlier, China is trying to become the second superpower in the world. They wanted to fill the vacuum generated by the destruction of former Soviet Union. Establishing supremacy in Asia is necessary for China to interfere more positively in global politics. China may use Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands dispute as an opportunity to demonstrate its military power once again to the world. In short, the possibility of war cannot be ruled out based on neorealist theories.  Conclusion Both Classical Realism and Neorealism give strong explanation for the China-Japan island confrontation. Japan is trying to secure its territories whereas China wants to expand its territories to prove that they are on the verge of becoming the second superpower in the world. In short, neither classical realist theories nor neorealist theories completely rule out the chances of a war between China and Japan over the ownership of Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands. Works Cited Bordner, Bruce. “Rethinking Neorealist Theory: Order Within Anarchy”. 1997. Web. 17 February 2013. “Chapter Summary”. Web. 17 February 2013. Fackler, Martin. “In Shark-Infested Waters, Resolve of Two Giants Is Tested”. The New York Times. September 22, 2012 Jingsheng, Wei. “Disputed Islands Could Lead To A Disastrous War For Everyone”. 2013. Web. 17 February 2013. Perlez, Jane. “As Dispute Over Islands Escalates, Japan and China Send Fighter Jets to the Scene”. The New York Times. January 18, 2013. “Territorial Dispute Involving Japan”. The New York Times. September 20, 2012 Read More