As Japan's "Parent," the United States Has Been Too Negligent

Published in Huanqiu
(China) on 26 March 2011
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Meghan McGrath. Edited by Alex Brewer.
The Japanese earthquake attracted worldwide attention, and even across the Atlantic, the United States is now under nuclear threat. And although Fukushima's "fire" has not yet been extinguished, the U.S. and Europe went off to start a “war” in Libya, which is really confusing.

Japan's nuclear policy and technology is undoubtedly directly related to U.S. "macro control." With Japan's "emergency," the United States felt duty-bound. Moreover, with the American post-war reconstruction of Japan, the Japanese lacked the ability to respond to emergency situations. This became apparent with the creation of dozens of Japanese civilian "death squads" to deal with the nuclear crisis. This ought to be the job of those soldiers fighting in Libya.

The U.S. has "maintained an army for a thousand days" in Japan; U.S. aircraft carriers were supposed to be used in this “one hour.”* But the people saw that on March 21, the U.S. Seventh Fleet stationed in the Pacific near Japan, as well as one aircraft carrier, the George Washington, quietly left the Yokosuka Naval Base. When the earthquake occurred, the high-profile U.S. aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan, which was involved with U.S.-Korean military exercises, moved to the disaster areas and could be followed leaving low-lying land. The U.S. Defense Department then announced that U.S. military personnel were prohibited from going into the Fukushima nuclear power plant or within 90 km of the surrounding area, in case of nuclear radiation. But at almost the same time, regardless of the danger of sending a U.S. aircraft carrier to Libya, it was given "a go." On the same day in both Asia and Africa, the U.S. aircraft carriers acted as if they were given orders by two people. The United States did not do what a "parent" should do.

The United States is the world's self-proclaimed "patriarch." Although this is not reasonable or legitimate, it happens because no other country can match the United States’ economic, political and military strength and influence. This makes the United States the world's only superpower. The United States’ benefit from this is great. Therefore, especially concerning major incidents, the United States should shoulder most of important responsibilities.

Moreover, the United States is still Japan's “parent.” The Japan-U.S. security system is not only the result of a post-WWII settlement, but also a result of the innate nature of relations between Japan and the U.S. Although the parenting only pertains to "military attacks," explicit regulations about "allowing the U.S. the use of Japan’s domestic facilities and land" are "for the sake of Japan’s security and to help contribute and maintain international peace and security in the Far East." Today, Japan is really suffering from a big threat. Is this the kind of thing for which the United States will contribute help? If the United States is not as strong as they would like because of the financial crisis, then why have they struck Libya, yet could not care less about Japan?

The responsibility of the United States to Japan is not limited to this. As we all know, Japan's first nuclear damage came from the U.S. And although it was part of World War II, for Japan and the U.S., it is still a controversial topic. Moreover, the majority of people in Japan are victims, and the United States should have a special concern for humanity and moral introspection. Today, Japan is suffering from nuclear disaster, but what are the nearest U.S. soldiers doing?

As for the United States, in Japan, those who should have been saved from the fire were not saved, and in Libya, affairs that should not have been meddled with were meddled with. Humanity is facing a common enemy, the biggest attack from nature, and major developed countries especially have the responsibility to act together and help Japan's predicament.

*Translator’s Note: This refers to the saying “To maintain an army for one thousand suns in order to use it for one hour.”


 日本大地震引起世界关注,连大洋彼岸的美国也在防范核威胁。但福岛的“火”还没有扑灭,美欧又跑到利比亚去点燃“战火”,实在令人不解。


  日本的核政策、技术无疑都与美国的“宏观调控”直接相关。至少,美国不点头,日本是不能触碰核这一特殊领域的。日本“有事”,美国责无旁贷。而且,美国对日本的战后改造,使日本缺少应对紧急事态的机制。所以,日本这次才会出现由几十个平民“敢死队”对付核危机的反常现象。这本应由那些在利比亚“大打出手”的部队来担负。


  一直住在日本、“养兵千日”的美国航母,本来就应该用在这“一时”。但人们看到的是,3月21日,驻守日本的美军太平洋第七舰队的唯一一艘航空母舰“华盛顿”号,悄悄驶离横须贺军港。地震发生时,美军曾高调将参加美韩军演的航空母舰“里根”号调往灾区。可随之又低调地离开。美国国防部随后宣布,禁止美国军人进入福岛核电站周围90公里区域,以防核辐射。但几乎同时,美国的航母不顾危险地到利比亚“一展身手”。同一天在亚非两地,美国航母的“表情”判若两人。美国的这些举动,实在不像一个“家长”所为。


  美国一直自命为世界的“大家长”。尽管这并不合理、也不合法,但由于美国是今天世界上唯一的超级大国,在当今世界经济、政治、军事等众多领域的巨大优势和强大影响力是其他国家无法比拟的。同样,美国获取的利益是极为巨大的。因此,美国对世界,尤其是重大突发事件理应担负最重大的责任。


  而且,美国还是日本的“小家长”。日美安保体制不仅是对二战的清算,也是日美主权关系的本质定位。尽管它只是针对“军事攻击”,但是,明确规定“允许美军使用日本国内的设施及区域”,是“为了对日本国的安全及维持远东的国际和平与安全做出贡献”。今天日本的安全实实在在受到了重大威胁,美国就是这样作出贡献的吗?如果说美国因金融危机力不从心,那为什么打利比亚,而对日本就漠不关心呢?


  美国对日本的责任还不仅限于此。众所周知,日本的第一次核伤害来自美国,尽管那是二战的一部分,但那至今仍是日美争议的重要话题。况且,受害者是日本的广大人民,美国理应对此拥有一种特殊的人性关怀及道德反省。今天,日本又受害于核,近在眼前的美国大兵在做什么?


  之于美国,在日本该救的火不救,在利比亚不该管的事又去管。人类正在面对共同的、来自大自然的最大袭击,发达大国尤其有责任共同行动,帮助日本解困。 ▲(作者是日本JJC新日本研究所副所长。)
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