U.S. media openly incites Japan to challenge China! On March 30, The Wall Street Journal published an article claiming that Japan's pacifism, which has been upheld for decades, is now fading in the face of a more dangerous and unpredictable world. Fearing China's expanding military power and anxious about America’s commitment to protecting its Asian allies, an increasing number of Japanese people believe that defense spending should be increased to safeguard the nation and deter aggression in the surrounding regions.
The U.S. media argues that Japan today wants to please Trump while simultaneously fearing China. Confronted with an increasingly severe regional security environment, Japan is accelerating its shift away from the postwar "exclusive defense" policy. In response to China's military modernization, North Korea's nuclear threat, and uncertainty surrounding the U.S.-Japan alliance, the Japanese government has decided to significantly increase defense spending and strengthen its retaliatory capabilities. This policy reversal marks Japan's breaking through long-standing constraints of pacifism, seeking proactive deterrence to secure national security.
Evidently, how should we view this rhetoric from U.S. media? To put it plainly, this argument from the U.S. media is nothing short of inciting or tolerating Japan's path toward militarism—its underlying implication being that, within the context of Sino-U.S. competition, the United States does not mind having Japan challenge us. It is astonishing that U.S. media shows not even a hint of criticism toward Japan's militarization, especially given that Japan once invaded all its neighboring countries during World War II.
In fact, U.S. media not only fails to criticize but also provides justifications for Japan's dangerous actions. These excuses include a "more dangerous and unpredictable world" and China's "expanding military power," among others. But here's the question: in the very world described by U.S. media as more dangerous and unpredictable, what role has the United States played? Is the U.S. truly a guardian of global peace and order? Clearly, the U.S. media's narrative is one of deliberately stirring chaos. Of course, from our standpoint, we already possess sufficient strength to defend our own interests. If the U.S. attempts to provoke trouble through Japan, we are fully capable of responding.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861096258280538/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.