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Modern Chinese-Japanese Relations: Is there any hope?
I can't really speak for how the Japanese feel about the Chinese, and I hope that posters such as Drake could offer more insights in this aspect. However, I can relay what I witnessed during my stay in China last year. To put it simply: troubling.
Chinese people's hatred of Japan varies from person to person, but the one thing that is constant is that they all do. Some hate Japan so much as to boycott all Japanese products. Others just don't care, but will state I hate Japan just to fit in. The latter is the real problem. Hatred in Japan is not only expected, but condoned and fueled by the government. Newspapers constantly put out anti-japanese articles, usually taking umbrage at innocuous Japan actions in order to incite rage. Textbooks clearly show China as a noble benefactor to Japan which was betrayed by Japanese treachery and jealousy. The Japanese are protrayed as primitive animals who owe all their accomplishments to China. The only other place in the world that I can think of where such hatred is so universal, permitted, and perversed is the Middle East.
Over the last year, I was quite surprised over the amount of violent incidents against Japanese peoplethat were brought to my attention. Some would come up to me to boast how the Japanese were treated. Others would vent their anger at some misconstrued Japanese offense. The government, which is known for covering up what it considers embarrassing behavior, made no such effort in regards to anti-Japanese demonstrations or violence. Nor was there any condemnation of it.
To learn whether a Chinese person hates Japan or not does not require much effort. In fact, many will reveal it with no prodding at all. In my early classes, I would ask students to tell me a certain number of things about themselves. I was shocked to hear how many chose "I hate Japan" as an answer to their identity. In my writing class, I had a student who would write papers on why she hated Japan, when the subject of the paper had nothing to do with Japan at all (one subject, was "Tell me about your school"). Some of my good Chinese friends were showing me their digital camera, when they blurted out that they won't buy Japanese products (I didn't mention how much better my Olympus camera was to theirs
. ).
At the same time, many Chinese do enjoy the benefits that Japan has brought to them, especially Japanese technology and popular culture. A student declaring that he hates Japan one day will be reading manga then next. Some Chinese will acknowledge superior Japanese products such as cars and digital technology but will add "I hate the people, not the product."
Up to now, I've painted a rather dire picture of Chinese relations toward Japan. In fact, I am somewhat reluctant to mention the following in fear of diminishing the extent and possible danger of such hatred. However, in order to present a fair representation of my observations, I need to discuss the other side of the issue.
One major point to consider is that the Chinese do have a reason to fall back upon when questioned about their feelings toward Japan. Japan's atrocities during WWII were terrible and disturbing. Such cruelty is difficult to forget and should be expected to make a mark on a nation's consciousness. Yet, not long after the Japanese occupation, the Chinese were committing similar atrocities on eachother with the permission of their government. Now, while many Chinese people realize what they did was wrong, there has never been an apology by the Chinese government for what happened. In fact, there have been huge cover ups, it has been glossed over in textbooks, and the leaders involved are still seen as honorable men (at least in the eyes of the ruling party). These are all complaints that the Chinese have made against the Japanese. I did discuss this with one of my students, who gave me an interesting answer, "Family forgives family." However, this answer fails to address the hypocrisy in a culture that encourages aversion to blame and never apologizing while demanding another culture to do the opposite. If Chinese wants its ways respected (even if they are contrary or even considered despicable to others' ways), then it should in turn show some respect and understanding of others' cultures as well. By doing this, China could take the first step in easing relations and creating a more peaceful Asia. As noted above, there is no indication that China will take this action.
A second major point to consider in the nature of Sino-Japan relations has been mentioned somewhat above. The majority of Chinese do not actively hate Japan. Most instances of violence or protest are start by those who do and who encourage the more passive haters to follow, usually in order to fit in. Most Chinese wouldn't take offense at what the Japanese do, unless someone points out how it is hurting them. For others, saying that they hate Japanese is just part of the world they live in. They don't think much about what the words mean. They don't really have any emotions toward the Japanese. They just follow along in order to avoid conflict with their kinsmen or just because it doesn't hurt not to.
From my exerience most Chinese fall into the "I really don't care" category. A few, which during my time in China actually caught me off guard, do embrace the Japanese as friends and don't worry about the past, but instead the future. But they still represented the minority in my experience.
For me in China, this has created some frustration. I like both China and Japan. Often I was placed in the middle of the conflict while in China. Usually, the attitude was if you didn't hate Japan then you must hate China. Unfortunately, my attempts make some Chinese people think further about the reasons and consquences of anti-Japanese feelings fell on deaf or even hostile ears.
So from China's side, what must be done in order to improve relations? As mentioned earlier, China both the people and government need to make more effort in understanding both Japan and themselves and how their cultures relate to one another. Even if Japan offers the apologies that China demands, I doubt that it will change China's feelings. Anti-Japanese sentiment has become so ingrained in China's culture that many will be reluctant to let it go. As demonstrated, the Chinese government is as much responsible, if not more, as Japan for this problem by encouraging it for so long. China needs to realize that in order for relations to improve, it must be willing to play a role other than the victim. China must be willing to show that it truly desires a peaceful coexistence with Japan.
I would like to hear the opinions and experiences of others concerning this. I'd especially like to hear the Japanese side. The only Japanese person I really know who even mentions China loves it. She's there now furthering her studies in the language for the summer.
Chinese people's hatred of Japan varies from person to person, but the one thing that is constant is that they all do. Some hate Japan so much as to boycott all Japanese products. Others just don't care, but will state I hate Japan just to fit in. The latter is the real problem. Hatred in Japan is not only expected, but condoned and fueled by the government. Newspapers constantly put out anti-japanese articles, usually taking umbrage at innocuous Japan actions in order to incite rage. Textbooks clearly show China as a noble benefactor to Japan which was betrayed by Japanese treachery and jealousy. The Japanese are protrayed as primitive animals who owe all their accomplishments to China. The only other place in the world that I can think of where such hatred is so universal, permitted, and perversed is the Middle East.
Over the last year, I was quite surprised over the amount of violent incidents against Japanese peoplethat were brought to my attention. Some would come up to me to boast how the Japanese were treated. Others would vent their anger at some misconstrued Japanese offense. The government, which is known for covering up what it considers embarrassing behavior, made no such effort in regards to anti-Japanese demonstrations or violence. Nor was there any condemnation of it.
To learn whether a Chinese person hates Japan or not does not require much effort. In fact, many will reveal it with no prodding at all. In my early classes, I would ask students to tell me a certain number of things about themselves. I was shocked to hear how many chose "I hate Japan" as an answer to their identity. In my writing class, I had a student who would write papers on why she hated Japan, when the subject of the paper had nothing to do with Japan at all (one subject, was "Tell me about your school"). Some of my good Chinese friends were showing me their digital camera, when they blurted out that they won't buy Japanese products (I didn't mention how much better my Olympus camera was to theirs
. ). At the same time, many Chinese do enjoy the benefits that Japan has brought to them, especially Japanese technology and popular culture. A student declaring that he hates Japan one day will be reading manga then next. Some Chinese will acknowledge superior Japanese products such as cars and digital technology but will add "I hate the people, not the product."
Up to now, I've painted a rather dire picture of Chinese relations toward Japan. In fact, I am somewhat reluctant to mention the following in fear of diminishing the extent and possible danger of such hatred. However, in order to present a fair representation of my observations, I need to discuss the other side of the issue.
One major point to consider is that the Chinese do have a reason to fall back upon when questioned about their feelings toward Japan. Japan's atrocities during WWII were terrible and disturbing. Such cruelty is difficult to forget and should be expected to make a mark on a nation's consciousness. Yet, not long after the Japanese occupation, the Chinese were committing similar atrocities on eachother with the permission of their government. Now, while many Chinese people realize what they did was wrong, there has never been an apology by the Chinese government for what happened. In fact, there have been huge cover ups, it has been glossed over in textbooks, and the leaders involved are still seen as honorable men (at least in the eyes of the ruling party). These are all complaints that the Chinese have made against the Japanese. I did discuss this with one of my students, who gave me an interesting answer, "Family forgives family." However, this answer fails to address the hypocrisy in a culture that encourages aversion to blame and never apologizing while demanding another culture to do the opposite. If Chinese wants its ways respected (even if they are contrary or even considered despicable to others' ways), then it should in turn show some respect and understanding of others' cultures as well. By doing this, China could take the first step in easing relations and creating a more peaceful Asia. As noted above, there is no indication that China will take this action.
A second major point to consider in the nature of Sino-Japan relations has been mentioned somewhat above. The majority of Chinese do not actively hate Japan. Most instances of violence or protest are start by those who do and who encourage the more passive haters to follow, usually in order to fit in. Most Chinese wouldn't take offense at what the Japanese do, unless someone points out how it is hurting them. For others, saying that they hate Japanese is just part of the world they live in. They don't think much about what the words mean. They don't really have any emotions toward the Japanese. They just follow along in order to avoid conflict with their kinsmen or just because it doesn't hurt not to.
From my exerience most Chinese fall into the "I really don't care" category. A few, which during my time in China actually caught me off guard, do embrace the Japanese as friends and don't worry about the past, but instead the future. But they still represented the minority in my experience.
For me in China, this has created some frustration. I like both China and Japan. Often I was placed in the middle of the conflict while in China. Usually, the attitude was if you didn't hate Japan then you must hate China. Unfortunately, my attempts make some Chinese people think further about the reasons and consquences of anti-Japanese feelings fell on deaf or even hostile ears.
So from China's side, what must be done in order to improve relations? As mentioned earlier, China both the people and government need to make more effort in understanding both Japan and themselves and how their cultures relate to one another. Even if Japan offers the apologies that China demands, I doubt that it will change China's feelings. Anti-Japanese sentiment has become so ingrained in China's culture that many will be reluctant to let it go. As demonstrated, the Chinese government is as much responsible, if not more, as Japan for this problem by encouraging it for so long. China needs to realize that in order for relations to improve, it must be willing to play a role other than the victim. China must be willing to show that it truly desires a peaceful coexistence with Japan.
I would like to hear the opinions and experiences of others concerning this. I'd especially like to hear the Japanese side. The only Japanese person I really know who even mentions China loves it. She's there now furthering her studies in the language for the summer.
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