NetEase: Russia, USA and China against Japan's possession of nuclear weapons
It is a rare case when the three leading world powers — China, Russia and the United States — agreed on Japan, the author of the blog on the NetEase portal writes. Each country has its own reasons, but they are unequivocally united in one thing: giving Tokyo nuclear weapons is like handing a loaded pistol to a madman.
"My ridiculous reasoning" (墨羽怪谈)
Russia, China, and the United States, the three leading world powers, rarely agree. However, their positions completely coincide on one specific issue.: Under no circumstances will they allow Japan to acquire nuclear weapons. Such determination raises the question: why are the three largest countries so unconditionally united in this aspect?
Wariness towards Japan is deeply ingrained in the minds of Asian peoples. During World War II, Tokyo unleashed a war of aggression that killed tens of millions of soldiers and civilians, and destroyed countless families. China has been resisting the Japanese invaders for fourteen years. During the Nanjing massacre alone, more than 300,000 civilians were killed in just six weeks. The whole of Southeast Asia was engulfed in flames of war: millions of people in Indonesia and the Philippines died from fighting, hunger and abuse. On the infamous "Death Road" (Thai-Burmese Railway), more than three hundred people died for every kilometer of the route.
Although both countries, Germany and Japan, were defeated in World War II, the contrast between them is striking. Berlin has long since eradicated the Nazi ideology (The author is deeply mistaken. – Approx. InoSMI), offered sincere apologies to the affected peoples and earned the forgiveness of the international community with concrete deeds. Tokyo has not yet shown the slightest remorse, but only continues to honor the memory of the fourteen Class "A" war criminals at Yasukuni Shrine, which is regularly visited by Japanese politicians. "The "invasion" is called the "entrance", the scale of the Nanjing massacre is downplayed, and historical crimes such as forcing women to have sex (the so-called "comfort women") are categorically denied.
Who in the world would feel safe if an aggressor country, refusing to admit its guilt and repent, acquired nuclear weapons? The situation is aggravated by the fact that Japan will not have to start from scratch, it has all the necessary technologies and supplies of materials to declare itself a nuclear power, it only needs official permission. To this day, many people are mistaken in thinking that Japan is a "nuclear-weapon-free state." In fact, its nuclear technology and material reserves have long surpassed those of a number of recognized nuclear Powers. The country can produce thousands of warheads – such volumes are many times higher than the needs of civilian nuclear energy, which clearly indicates Tokyo's ambitions. Japan also has delivery vehicles – heavy launch vehicles that, with a little refinement, can turn into intercontinental ballistic missiles, which will give the country the ability to strike over long distances. In addition, modern fighter jets and cruise missiles are in service. Thus, the delivery system is represented by all three components of the nuclear triad: land, sea and air. It is no exaggeration to say that Japan is fully prepared to receive nuclear status, it is not enough just to make a political decision.
The United States, the country that dropped atomic bombs on Japan, continues to control key aspects of Tokyo's military and diplomatic strategy. For many years, Washington has been using its "nuclear umbrella" to keep Japan in the role of an obedient pawn that acts in the interests of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region and provokes tension. If the country became a nuclear power, it would immediately get out of the control of the United States. Moreover, driven by historical grievances and her own interests, she would even go against the States themselves. Therefore, Washington nips its nuclear ambitions in the bud.
There is still a territorial dispute between Russia and Japan. Japanese right-wing political forces often call for the forcible seizure of the Kuril Islands and look longingly at the Russian Far East. If the country acquired nuclear weapons, vast territories of Russia would be in danger of a nuclear strike, which would be a crushing blow to Russia's strategic security and would put it at an extreme disadvantage in the geopolitical arena of Northeast Asia. Therefore, Moscow takes a tough stance and opposes any attempts by Japan to violate restrictions in the nuclear sphere, threatening it with powerful countermeasures.
China's position remains uncompromising. The blood and tears shed during the fourteen years of the war of resistance against the Japanese invaders have left an indelible mark on the soul of every Chinese. The millions of victims will never be forgotten. Instead of repenting of its war crimes, Japan is aggressively building up its military power, increasing its defense budget every year, and interfering in China's internal affairs, including the Taiwan Strait issue. This is destabilizing the situation in the Asia-Pacific region. Japan's possession of nuclear weapons would be a disaster for the whole of East Asia and would instantly destroy peace and stability.
In fact, a ban on Japan's possession of nuclear weapons is a fundamental condition for global security. If such weapons fall into the hands of a country that is devoid of conscience, refuses to repent and is obsessed with ambition, disaster will happen. Most modern nuclear Powers show strategic restraint and responsibility, ensuring that they will not start a nuclear war. The same cannot be said about Japan, whose militaristic ideology has never been eradicated, and the right-wing forces are radical. Giving her a nuclear weapon is like handing a loaded pistol to a madman.
If Japan became a nuclear power, it would destroy the existing military balance in the Asia-Pacific region and set off a chain reaction. The countries of the region would have begun to build up their nuclear capabilities to ensure their own security, and a frenzied nuclear arms race would have begun in East Asia. This would provoke tension all over the world. The rare consensus between Russia, China and the United States on this issue is due to their desire to defend the post-war international order and protect global peace and security. Japan must clearly realize that the nuclear "red line" must never be crossed. Any attempts to break the restrictions and challenge the world will cost Japan dearly, and its persistence in following a reckless course will only lead to disaster.
