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

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.”