Japan after WWII
Having learned an extremely costly lesson regarding the futility of waging war, Japan started a new chapter following WWII and began to devote itself to the reconstruction of the country and to the recovery of its economy. It is amazing and praise-worthy that a country which was almost totally destroyed by war and was receiving aid from the US in the aftermath of the war, rose like a phoenix and became a major economic power-house in the world and a net donor country within 10 years.
By 1968, it had become the second largest economy in the world.
As Japan prospered, it started sharing its wealth with the developing nations of the world by way of providing ODA, which today stands at about 37.6 trillion yen (JPY 100: $1 approximately), of which 16.6 trillion is in loans, about 16.3 trillion in grants, and about 4.7 trillion is technical co-operation.
In the same spirit, Korea, a victim of Japanese occupation, concluded an agreement with Japan in 1965 on property claims and economic co-operation, in accordance with the San Francisco Treaty. Under the agreement, Japan provided Korea $300m in grants and $200m in long-term, low-interest loans.
Japan believes the issue of property claims between the two nations, including the claim by individuals, has been settled "completely and finally" through this agreement. Today, Korea is a major trading partner of Japan and the two countries co-operate with each other in many international issues. But they still differ on war issues, especially on the issue of the “comfort women.”
Similarly, Japan also provided ODA to China to the tune of 3.66 trillion yen which included loan aid, grant aid, and technical co-operation. Today, China is Japan's largest trade partner, and the bilateral trade stands at $312bn, of which the balance tips in favour of China.
There are nearly 25,000 Japanese companies operating in China at the moment. Furthermore, a joint historical study conducted by China and Japan in 2010 released a report which pointed toward a new consensus on the issue of World War II-era atrocities. Yet, intractable differences exist between the two countries on war and historical issues as well as on maritime boundary disputes.
Bangladesh is also a major beneficiary of Japanese ODA , and Japan has generously contributed to our various national development areas including infrastructure, human resource developments, poverty alleviation, disaster management, etc. Furthermore, during our war of liberation, the Japanese people extended their whole-hearted support to our cause. Japan was the first developed country to extend its recognition to Bangladesh, immediately after our independence, on January 10, 1972.
Commensurate to its rising prosperity, Japan started sharing global economic and social responsibility, both near and far, sans security matters, for it was restrained from doing so under Article 9 of its constitution, adopted during US occupation. The issue came to the fore following the First Gulf War, during which Japan contributed to the war in material and financial form, though it felt its contribution was not adequately appreciated.
Japan revises its defense policy
During the Second Gulf War, Japan engaged in refueling operations in the Indian Ocean and also dispatched Self-Defense Force (SDF) personnel to Iraq to participate in the reconstruction effort. The shift in Japan's defense policy was reportedly aimed at pro-actively contributing to international peace.
However, the initiative was hamstrung, as the Japanese SDF personnel were barred from carrying arms and, at times, their own lives came under threat while carrying out their duties. There was also pressure from the United States to share increased burden of security under the “US-Japan Security Pact.” The issue had come under intense debate both within the Diet (Japan's parliament) and outside for a number of years, drawing close scrutiny from China and Korea.
Finally, in May 2014, the Japanese government framed a new parliamentary legislation on "peace and security" under which the SDF would be able to participate pro-actively in collective defense along with the United States and other friendly countries and use force in the event of an attack on Japan.
Such use of force will only be used in the territory of Japan and the waters around it. The legislation has incorporated a number of conditions and situations when the SDF can use such force. While framing the new legislation, the Japanese government was mindful of the rise of military power of China on one hand and the menacing nuclear threat by North Korea on the other.
Nonetheless, the new development was perceived with alarm by China and Korea, both of which called it an attempt at re-militarising Japan.
Japan constitutes advisory panel on history
The Japanese government had earlier constituted an advisory panel on the "History of the 20th Century and on Japan's role and world order in the 21st century.” The advisory panel, which consisted of 17 members mostly drawn from the leading academic elites, think-tanks, the media, and the private sector, submitted its report on August 6 this year.
The advisory panel conducted a dispassionate research and study of the 19th and 20th century history of the world order, the rise of colonialism pursued by the Western powers, the mistakes committed by the Japanese government at the time in pursuing war and colonialism on its neighbours, among other things. It also made an attempt to reason as to why Japan had chosen this path, admitting, in the same breath, that it had been a mistake.
The report recognised Japan's aggression in the neighbouring countries and the atrocities it inflicted upon them and how much the country itself has suffered due to the war.
It also held that, whether intended or not, Japan's involvement in the war did end up promoting the independence of the colonies in Asia. And, after the war, Japan helped the newly independent countries to stand on their own feet through reparations and economic co-operation.
As to what lesson has been learnt, the panel recommends that Japan should resolutely renounce war and that war should never be used as a means of settlement of international disputes, which should only be resolved through peaceful means.
It also recommends that "peace, rule of law, liberal democracy, respect for human rights, the free trade system, self-determination, support for the economic development of developing countries,” which have characterised post-War Japan, must remain unchanged and should form as the corner stone of Japan's policy in the future.
It also surmised that Japan has adequately expressed its remorse over its actions and made due compensation over the years through various means. It also mentions the “comfort women” and what Japan has done to relieve their pains and would continue do so in the future through various means.
The study also reviewed the path of peace and development Japan has undertaken in the post-War era and what it has done internationally in pursuit of those goals by providing ODA to different developing countries.
On the question of what role Japan should play in the 21st century, the panel, while taking note of the change in the balance of global power both in economic and security terms, recommends that Japan must play its international role commensurate to its economic power.
It specifically recommends intensifications of Japan's contribution to the international order through various UN and other international bodies, increasing its ODA contribution, contributing to peace and development, and supporting other global social issues, including women, the environment, inter-civilisational dialogue, and opening Japan by removing domestic regulation so as to adopt diversification, among others. It also recommends creating opportunities for researchers from around the globe to engage in joint studies on world history and Asian history.
