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East Asia (2014) 31:2347
DOI 10.1007/s12140-014-9202-6
Toru Horiuchi
Received: 2 October 2013 /Accepted: 4 February 2014 /Published online: 19 February 2014 # Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014
Abstract This article examines the role of public opinion in Japan in directly influencing the Japanese governments decision to nationalize the Senkaku Islands in 2012. The public mood in Japan is becoming increasingly nationalistic. Although this does not immediately mean the return of militarism in the country, such a mood is especially evident with respect to China. The nationalization of the Islands took place within this nationalistic domestic environment. In the case of the nationalization, public opinion was channeled most notably through Tokyo Governor Ishihara. His plan to purchase the Islands and strong public support for his plan eventually forced the central governments intervention. Prime Minister Noda simply could not force Ishihara to give up his plan because going against such a popular politician who was enjoying strong public support would almost certainly have caused a strong public backlash and resulted in electoral punishment. On the other hand, Noda was also concerned that Tokyos successful acquisition of the Islands would lead to severe criticism of his government for not properly protecting Japans territorial integrity. There was also a more serious concern that Ishiharas control of the Islands might lead to a change of the status quo and thus dangerously provoke China. Therefore, Noda had no choice but to intervene and nationalize the Islands. If he was also seeking to mobilize public opinion in his favor, he was not entirely successful.
Keywords Nationalism.Anti-Chinesesentiment.Publicopinion.Nationalizationofthe Senkaku Islands . Sino-Japanese relations . Ishihara Shintaro
Introduction
Sino-Japanese relations have recently been attracting a great deal of academic and public attention because of the heightened tensions between the two countries resulting from various bilateral issues. Officially, however, ChinaJapan relations are supposed to be mutually beneficial relations based on common strategic interests. Both states
T. Horiuchi (*)
BSSc Programme in Global Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong e-mail: [email protected]
Public Opinion in Japan and the Nationalization of the Senkaku Islands
24 East Asia (2014) 31:2347
do have some common strategic interests and cooperate in many policy areas, such as economic development and prosperity and the North Korean nuclear issue. In...