Here's a good article by Bill Emmott on the coming struggle between India, China and Japan. I'm glad that Japan is increasingly looking at India for partnership, but it seems rather overdue on their part, as if they're succumbing to change only after their situation becomes dire enough to force them towards it. Anyway, this article is mainly about India and China.
The comments below the article are useful, too.
3 comments:
More thoughts from me:
As I've said before, the Koreans are a little more down-to-earth than the patrician Japanese. You see the Koreans racing ahead of Japan in pursuing business opportunities in India.
We Indians often see Japan as a prospective partner, particularly in counterbalancing China. But maybe a reunified Korea could be a better partner for India. Certainly, reunification would turn Korea into a powerhouse, as it did for Germany. Unlike Japan, the Koreans would have a land-border with China, just as we do. Therefore they would not have the luxury of adopting the hermit-like approach Japan has sometimes taken on regional affairs.
Korea also does not have the imperialist baggage that Japan has, with associated mistrust by neighboring countries in the region. Both India and Korea know what it's like to be colonies ruled by outsiders.
While Korea has recently achieved a Free Trade deal with the US, and hopes to catch upto Japan, it is still afraid of being undercut by growing competition from China. Furthermore, China's routine comments about Korea having been part of China's past empires could potentially be interpreted as more than just bonhomie, given China's similar justifications in claiming Tibet.
The timetable for this depends on how soon the tottering Pyongyang finally falls and finishes its death throes. But it could happen.
i feel a little queasy about south koreans. all of the ones i have encountered are serious bible-thumpers. is it possible to have any kind of dialog with such maniacs? it is true they did come into india early, but they probably view india mostly as a good market for their electronics and their bibles.
also, this emmott was editor of the economist. how come he has become apparently more india-friendly after leaving the atlanticist? is there a publisher's order that makes the atlanticist so anti-india?
I agree. The Koreans are recent and zealous converts who are also muscling Buddists in their own backyard.
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