From The Wall Street Journal, via A Glimpse of the World:
Japan and China have been at each others’ throats for centuries over who dominates the Western Pacific, and particularly Taiwan and Korea. Like the long-seated rivalry between France and Britain in Europe, China, as the continental power, and Japan, as the island power, have engaged in repeated pitched battles over the years. On sea, land and in the commercial arena, the two countries have used everything from piracy and intrigue to coups to advance their own ends.
Until the late 19th century, China was clearly the dominant player. But then a modernized Japan defeated a waning China, seized Korea and Taiwan, and occupied most of China. Even after Japan’s military defeat in 1945, China was initially handicapped by the domestic catastrophes inflicted by its new Communist rulers, while the Japanese economic behemoth dominated. Only after Deng Xiaoping adopted the open-door policy in the 1980s did that begin to change. After more than two decades of rapid economic growth, China is rapidly replacing Japan as the major economic force in East Asia. Already it is Japan and Taiwan’s largest trading partner, has increasing economic influence in Korea and a proposed free-trade agreement is likely to further enhance its economic clout at the expense of Japan.
Throughout history, the U.S. has played a key role in the power struggle between these two Asian giants. In the 19th century it favored Japan, then the U.S. allied itself with China against Japan in World War II. Today Washington has strong ties to both Asian countries and how the U.S. plays its hand could have a crucial impact on the outcome. Whether the two countries can put aside their differences to continue down the path toward a prosperous, stable, and successful East Asia, or whether the region is torn apart by destructive competition and tension due to military build-ups, will partly depend on how America handles the situation.
