Japanese View of Chinese Nationalism

A University of Tokyo professor noted that it is debatable whether opinion within the highest echelons of the Chinese government is even united on a Japan strategy.

Even as Akihiko Tanaka noted that there are many in China who feel that friction with Japan should be avoided for the sake of economic development, such a thinking is "powerless in the face of the overwhelming anti-Japanese sentiment of China's youth. Criticism of Japan has its origins in public education, so it is difficult for the government so say anything."

Tanaka argued that the Chinese government is unable to come up with what he called a radical solution in stemming the on-and-off anti-Japanese protests. Rather, Beijing can only come up with ad hoc measures.

He added: "Chinese public at present is growing increasingly self-confident while at the same time holding on to a victim's mentality ... When you think about it, the very idea of achieving amazing economic growth under a massive communist, authoritarian system is a topsy-turvy kind of social experiment. And if it produces an explosion, it will pose a major crisis for neighboring countries. Ignoring the problem is not an option." (Japan Echo, August 2005)

The long term solution, according to Tanaka, laid in the "democratization of China." He noted that while the feelings of those who had received anti-Japanese education are likely to persist, a democratic society allows for the expression of diverse opinions, "and this creates a greater possibility of holding one-sided xenophobia in check."

Another Japanese observer - an advisor to former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi - noted that whenever anything goes wrong, there will probably be no fracture within the Chinese leadership at least on the matter of taking a hard line anti-Japanese stance.

Yukio Okamoto added that what Japan should really be worried about is what happens 10 to 20 years down the road when the present generation of youth raised with an anti-Japanese mindset moves into leadership positions throughout society.