Faithfulness, affection and reasonableness

Recently, one of my college alumni explained how a Chinese scholar categorically observed the traits and characters of the people of three Northeast Asian nations. According to the Chinese scholar, with regard to interpersonal relationships the Chinese value “faithfulness,’’ while the Koreans tend to emphasize “affection,’’ and the Japanese respect “reasonableness’’ in handling matters.

Another friend who specializes in Japanese studies explained to me two distinctive and contrasting characters of the Japanese: “honne” and “tatemae.” Honne means a person’s real intention or inner thoughts which should not be revealed, while tatemae is supposed to be the outright and expressed view and behavior, which may not necessarily be consistent with the real intention. It is this “facade” which is sometimes mistakenly accepted as the Japanese true heart. Therefore, it is confusing to understand Japan’s true intentions in dealing with the recent incidents over two disputed islands: the Dokdo Island in the East Sea and the Senkaku Islands (called the Diaoyu Islands by the Chinese) in the East China Sea.

Dokdo has been Korean territory for over a thousand years since the Three Kingdom period. Korean President Lee Myung-bak, just this month, visited the island, and reiterated Korea’s sovereignty over it. Lee’s visit as the chief executive of the Korean government is quite natural and does not warrant any protest from the Japanese government and right-wing conservatives.

In the meantime, the Senkaku Islands have been under Japanese administration for some time now. A couple of days after Lee’s trip to Dokdo, several Chinese activists, amid a Japanese naval blockade, landed on the Senkaku Islands and hoisted their national flag. Fourteen Chinese activists were apprehended by the Japanese Coast Guard, but were released from detention in only a few days. Japan said it deported them to defuse a potentially damaging standoff with China which also claims the island as its territory.

Judging from the Japanese government’s actions regarding these two island issues, it is hard to find the above mentioned traditional Japanese trait of “reasonableness’’ in handling matters. The Japanese government’s reaction to the Dokdo issue is very different from its actions regarding the activists who landed on the Senkaku Islands. Japan’s double-faced diplomacy is evident. A traditional rigid practice of two contrasting reactions was shown. By deporting the activists immediately after their arrest, Japan appeared to be trying to quickly end a potential diplomatic crisis. On the other hand, the Japanese Cabinet is taking strong measures that could hamper the bilateral relationship with Korea. It is indeed a treacherous way of handling matters.

There is speculation that the current Korea-Japan diplomatic situation may bring about a chill to the bilateral economic and cultural relationship, while also intensifying resentment among the general public of the two nations. The incumbent Japanese Cabinet has been tilting toward the right since its inauguration and has subsequently created a political environment that enabled the production of some provocative documents regarding Dokdo.

It was only three months ago when the leaders of Korea, China and Japan were holding hands together at the Fifth Trilateral Summit in Beijing, signaling a promising manifesto for a powerful economic partnership in Asia for the coming decades. For the cause of continuing cooperation, peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia, the tension should not be allowed to escalate.

In the meantime, Japan must first realize the reason for tension between it and Korea. Many Asians including Koreans know about Japan’s past deeds. In the past, Japan twice turned the Korean Peninsula into a battleground; it was victimized by Japan during the Seven Year War (1592–1598) and the Forced Occupation Period (1910-1945). Controversy over the sovereignty of Dokdo was triggered by Japan’s territorial ambitions during and after those two periods.

Here is an important lesson for any country with territorial ambitions. John Perkins, in his book, “The Secret History of the American Empire,’’ eloquently wrote: “An empire never lasts. Every one of them has failed terribly. They destroy many cultures as they race toward greater domination, and then they themselves fall. No country or combination of countries can thrive in the long term by exploiting others.”

More rational decisions and actions by the leaders of both sides are needed. It is time to transcend chronic rivalries and resentment amongst one and another for the sake of working out solutions to deal with the ever mounting global threats of our time such as terrorism, nuclear security, and food and energy resources. It is time for all three nations, China, Japan and Korea, to display the faithfulness, affection and reasonableness required to march together toward common prosperity. <The Korea Times/Shin Hyun-gook>

news@theasian.asia