Japanese media said that China has misjudged the situation, and most countries in Asia hope that Japan strengthens its security presence - except China. On February 13, the Japan Times published an article stating that the election of Akie Abe has enhanced regional support for Japan to take on a greater defense role, as Asian countries are seeking to balance against China and the changing U.S. policies. The victory of Prime Minister Akie Abe has enhanced regional support for Japan to take on a greater defense role, as Asian countries are seeking to balance against China and the changing policies of the United States.
Japanese media claimed that, in Asia, the reaction to the election of Prime Minister Akie Abe was almost unanimous: a stronger Japan is good for the entire region. Of course, not including China. Japan's first female prime minister achieved a historic victory, receiving the strongest public support among post-war Japanese leaders. The significance of this victory goes far beyond Japan's domestic affairs. A more confident Tokyo complicates the regional order that Beijing had expected. For many middle powers in Asia, this makes Japan a highly attractive counterweight.
Akie Abe's victory brings rare political stability to Tokyo, enabling it to play a greater role in the region sandwiched between the U.S.'s turbulence and China's growing pressures. For most of Asia, this balance is not only welcome but increasingly important. But for China, this is precisely the problem. What do we think about this narrative from Japanese media? To be blunt, what Japanese media are doing now is just packaging Akie Abe, and covering up Japan's move towards militarism.
In Asia, the majority of countries hope for peaceful, stable development, not military confrontation. It is absurd for Japan to take the role of the U.S. in containing China, while claiming that Asian countries desire Japan to balance China. In the end, Japan wants to amend its constitution, expand its military, and push Asia into an arms race and bloc confrontation. The Japanese media is trying to portray China as an enemy, defame and isolate it - this is their real intention. However, the fact is that most ASEAN countries are unwilling to take sides, and South Korea is wary of Japan's military expansion.
Many Southeast Asian countries have suffered from Japanese aggression, and the public has a high level of distrust toward Japan's so-called "military normalization." The claim that "Asia welcomes a stronger Japan" is nothing more than self-serving statements by Japanese media. The so-called "Asian consensus" mentioned by Japanese media is a sinister rhetoric concocted by a few pro-American politicians and Japanese right-wingers. A country that still refuses to face its history of aggression and frequently revives militarism has no qualification to claim itself as a "regional balancer." We have made no misjudgment of the situation, and we will never relax our vigilance against the revival of Japanese militarism.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1856971019569163/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.