A Bridge by way of Business

Politics aside, Japan and China forge closer business ties

Selection of interesting quotes:

At a time of rising political tensions, heightened by growing nationalism, China and Japan are more closely intertwined economically than they have ever been. In their breadth and intensity, the ties have begun to surpass those between the United States and Japan, whose economic relationship has often been called the most important in the world.

...

China's ascension has been so fast that Japan must now contemplate a true rivalry, with the Chinese economy not only outstripping the Japanese in size in the future, but also perhaps matching it in sophistication before long.

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"History problems are history problems, but I think you have to be realistic," said Zhang Shuai, a 22-year-old engineering student. "There are certain problems that are government problems, but this is about my future, my lifestyle."

...

In Japan, business tends to support Koizumi for leading domestic economic change, but cringes at his government's antagonistic policy toward China. Businesspeople fear that after Koizumi retires next year, an even more nationalistic leader may replace him.

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"It's difficult to make Japanese, even your own brothers and sisters, understand that Japan's development depends on China and China's development depends on Japan," he added. "They are under the influence of the media back home, which is always blasting away at China."

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I'm sure this is not anything new. Still, the article I think does highlight something I, for my part, have been ignoring since the discussions came up.

The first two quotes I selected were interesting for their contrast. In the first paragraph we have a particular focus on the word "intertwined" while the second revolves around "rivalry." This obviously suggests the ambiguities of even their economic relationship, but the article for the most part seemed fairly optimistic.

The third selection was interesting because of the way the student wrote of "history problems [as] history problems," with his main incentive for bridging the gap being business-related, rather than ideological, despite his nationality.

The last selection emphasizes the ambiguous nature, especially pertaining to future relations.


What I found interesting about reading this article was that it was business that has helped strengthen ties to some degree, not an intrinsic wish to make things better. This is of course not new- after all, that is why boycotts are potentially effective given the right strategies. Businesses aim to make money, not ideals. Still, it's always been ironic that amoral (that is, morally indifferent, not antimoral) business interests are edging around what I see in part as a rift-causing moral matter in order to bridge the two nations, if the article is any indication.

Can it work? Can it help? What do you guys think?

noﾂ，I don't think it will help much~! because ,It last too long~ and nothing changed.even worser!