{"id":7619,"date":"2013-07-19T14:30:38","date_gmt":"2013-07-19T04:30:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/?p=7619"},"modified":"2013-07-22T06:58:42","modified_gmt":"2013-07-21T20:58:42","slug":"aspi-suggests-35","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/aspi-suggests-35\/","title":{"rendered":"ASPI suggests"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

Japan has released\u00a0Defence Of Japan 2013<\/a>, its annual defence white paper\u2014ASPI\u2019s Ben Schreer had\u00a0a piece on it <\/a>earlier in the week. The document shows increasing tension in Tokyo over security in North East Asia. The main focus of that tension is, of course, China. The disputed Senkaku\/Diaoyu islands have been a focus for\u00a0particularly icy relations<\/a>\u00a0between Beijing and Tokyo since the release.<\/p>\n

The Japanese white paper includes the observation that despite an expectation that China will act as a responsible major power:<\/p>\n

\u2026there have been disputes with other countries on issues relating to trade imbalances, currency rates, and human rights. In regard to the issues on conflicting interests with its surrounding countries, including Japan, China has attempted to change the status quo by force based on its own assertion which is incompatible with the existing order of international law.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Two days after the release of the paper, five Chinese Navy ships were\u00a0seen sailing through the La Perouse Strait<\/a>\u00a0for the first time, after concluding exercises with Russia off Vladivostok on 12\u00a0July. The strait separates Japan\u2019s northernmost island Hokkaido from Russia\u2019s Sakhalin Island.<\/p>\n

Hawkish Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is looking\u00a0set to win Sunday\u2019s upper house election<\/a>. While he promises to revive Japan\u2019s underperforming economy, his nationalist stance on defence and suggested reforms to Japan\u2019s pacifist constitution will do nothing to ease tensions.<\/p>\n

The silent third party in this evolving dynamic is the United States, and its relationship with both China and Japan. Here’s a video of ASPI\u2019s Executive Director Peter Jennings, and former director Hugh White debating the idea that Australia has to choose between the US and China.<\/p>\n