5-Apr-18 World View -- China on path to repeat Japan's experience after Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930

[Guest]

> YOU KNOW NOTHING.

> Asian countries are armed to the teeth. And they continue to
> upgrade their armed forces. Thailand has an aircraft carrier. So
> do the Koreans and and the Japanese. The most powerful navy in
> Asia (after America's) is Japan's. Asia is not Europe. The
> Europeans have slashed their defense budgets, ended conscription,
> and reduced the size of their armed forces. The state of many
> European armies is bad. Asian armed forces are continuously being
> upgraded (as much as their budgets will allow). Japan, SK, and a
> few other countries do look to America for help, but most
> don't. Does Vietnam really expect America to defend them?

> I can't believe you keep writing such rubbish...

If Japan's navy is more powerful than China's -- and I assume that the
same can't be said comparing their air forces -- then what would
happen in a bilateral regional war over the Senkaku Islands?

China would resort to nuclear weapons in the long run. Seizing the Senkakus wouldn't be that difficult. The war that would follow would be. Also, I can't imagine Japan having to fight China alone, not with Donald trump in power.

Qualitatively, the Japanese weapon systems and the average Japanese solider is superior. Both armies are made up of inexperienced soldiers and officer corps, but the Japanese have had the benefit of working with the highly experienced American military. Japan has a better understanding (via the Americans) of joint military operations, combat training, etc.

China's officer corps is corrupt and largely inept. The average Chinese soldier is not well trained. The Chinese have the numbers, and they don't care about the lives of their own soldiers at all. The sheer size of the Chinese military is a factor, but China remains a second rate military power (at best). China has a super delusional idea of their own military capabilities.

[Guest]

Manchukuo. The puppet state created by Japan in Northwest China was horrific. Murder, rape, and torture on a scale that surpassed anything the the Nazis did in Europe. The Japanese inflicted decades of horrendous suffering on the Chinese, and to this day, the Japanese show no remorse. All the talk of Manchukuo being a land of brotherhood is easily debunked. Beyond the millions of dead Chinese, beyond the million of Chinese women who were repeatedly raped by Japanese and afterwards forced into prostitution, beyond the opium monopolies run by the Japanese military, beyond the shocking medical experiments carried out by Unit 731 on live patients, beyond the slave labor, was the constant violent soul crushing humiliation of the Chinese people by the Japanese.

Let me give one minor example:

A group of Imperial officers from Manchu Emperor Pu Yi's Imperial bodyguard went to a lake in the puppet capital to enjoy a day on the swan boats. When they went to buy their boat rental tickets, a group of Japanese soldiers surrounded them. The Chinese army officers (who were in Manchukuo uniforms) were forced to strip and dance naked for a jeering crowd of Japanese colonists who were also spending their day at the lake. The Chinese officers were subjected to severe humiliation. Afterwards they were imprisoned and suffered further abuse. What was the point of this? These men were not enemy soldiers, but 'allies' of the Japanese. What did they do to deserve such treatment? They were Chinese. The Japanese had no intention of ever allowing the native population of Manchuria to ever be anything but miserable, degraded, and savagely abused slaves.

To this day, the Japanese feel no remorse. On the contrary, there is a thriving nostalgic boom for all things Manchukuo in Japan. What to make of this?

[John]

What year was this?

[Guest]

What year was this?

In the 1930s. I don't recall the exact year, but it must have been after 1934 (when Pu Yi was made Emperor) of Manchukuo. Pu Yi did try to help these man, but the Japanese ignored his pleas. This is a well known story. You'll be able to find it in history books.

I'm not Chinese. I'm American. I'm not paid troll. I'm someone who studies history and has grown tired of people using it as a weapon to influence the ignorant.

-Joel

[John]

You're American? The language in your writing does not appear to be
native American. The wording appears to be English as a second
language, with an Asian language as a first language.

[Guest]

I think it is important to add that I don't support the Chinese government. I'm an American patriot. I'm not attempting to justify any future military action against Japan.

I think Japan should be allowed to keep the Senkaku islands, and I want Taiwan to be an independent (and internationally recognized) country. I'm not bashing the Japanese. I'm stating facts. Japan continues to alienate potential Asian allies with their complete lack of remorse. Countries like Russia and Serbia are the same. They have no remorse for what they have done to people.

Many Americans are remorseless over the mass murder of innocent people in Iraq and Afghanistan, but at least their are loud voices and segments of American society that do admit the wrongs that America has committed. I'm one of them. I am not traitor. I will always love my country. But I am also a decent person who tries his best to be good. I can't turn a blind eye to injustice.

-Joel

P.S. Apologies for any typos.

[Guest]

You're American? The language in your writing does not appear to be
native American. The wording appears to be English as a second
language, with an Asian language as a first language.

I have lived half my life overseas. I was born in Europe to two American parents and grew up in in foreign countries. Maybe that has influenced my writing style? I don't speak English with an accent. I'm also white.

[John]

OK, thanks for the information about Japan. It was very interesting
and helpful. Also, I've actually had other people online tell me the
same sorts of things about the Japanese, so it makes sense. However,
not everyone would agree with you that Japan has a more powerful
military than China's, but on the other hand, I'm sympathetic to the
view that China's military is bloated, corrupt and poorly trained.

[Guest]

OK, thanks for the information about Japan. It was very interesting
and helpful. Also, I've actually had other people online tell me the
same sorts of things about the Japanese, so it makes sense. However,
not everyone would agree with you that Japan has a more powerful
military than China's, but on the other hand, I'm sympathetic to the
view that China's military is bloated, corrupt and poorly trained.

I have been following you for years. Warren Pollack interviewed you 6-7 years ago on his You Tube Channel. That's how I found you. I mentioned WP to you in a post several years ago. I occasionally comment here. WP took down his channel in 2012-13. He had a lot of interesting things to say that I agreed with, but he didn't understand Asian cultures that well. He was also an apologist for Israel, which I grew I tired of. I don't trust people with moral blind spots. Still, I miss his videos, and I am grateful he brought me to you.

[John]

Yes I remember Warren. He's a very interesting guy.