Long time lurker here. The recent report via Defense Industry Daily suggests Japan will sell the Soryu class to Australia conditional upon a joint military alliance between the two countries. Unfortunately I can't post the link as I haven't surpassed 10 posts on this forum yet. Hopefully somebody else can display the link.
The ramifications of this report, if true, are enormous. It puts a new perspective on the opportunity cost of the RAN gaining access to Japanese submarine technology. I'm not a military expert but travel extensively throughout Asia on business. I am indirectly involved in the mining industry and cognisant of the fact 30% of Australia's exports currently go to China. 300 million Chinese (the population of USA) will move from the countryside to the cities within the next 15 years and the demand for Australia's raw materials will surge. By 2030 it's not unreasonable to suggest 50% of our exports will go to the Chinese. Our economy, living standards and defense budget will be totally dependent upon trade with this one country. Pardon the pun but we have put all our eggs in one basket.
Most Australians are unaware of the deep seated animosity between China and Japan. It all stems from the atrocities committed on the Chinese population by the Japanese military 70 years ago. In Australia post WW2 it was not uncommon for my grandparents generation to avoid buying Japanese products. Understandably they were disgusted by first hand stories of diggers being murdered and tortured whilst prisoners of the Japanese. As time went by the following generations of Australians mellowed in their opinion of the Japanese and today the atrocities are almost forgotten.
Not so in China. Commencing in primary school the Chinese kids are taught how the Japanese butchered their way through China in the 1930-40's. The infamous Unit 731 and their biological experiments. The Nanjing massacre. The Changde massacre whereby the Japanese released fleas infected with bubonic plague from aircraft above the city. Every event and gory detail is described and discussed. Kids are encouraged to stand up in class and vent their anger. Teachers win awards by writing scathing critiques about the Japanese occupation. It has basically become part of the school syllabus. Most of my Chinese friends are in their 20's and they were all exposed to this indoctrination. Not surprisingly they all despise the Japanese.
Which brings me to crux of the issue. The Chinese population hates the Japanese. Rather than lessen over time this deep seated hate and anger has gotten worse with each generation. Sit down for a meal with an ordinary Chinese family and listen to what they have to say about the Japanese. It's like Jews talking about the Nazi's. Drive through the major Chinese cities and you will see huge billboards adjacent to the freeways saying "The Diaoyu Islands belong to China". Owners of Japanese cars in China, in an attempt to stop their windows from being smashed, display bumper stickers saying they are Chinese. Some western commentators falsely believe this anti-Japanese agenda is for internal consumption to keep focus away from the government. Nothing could be more from the truth. The Chinese population and military is gagging for a chance to settle the score with Japan. It is only a matter of time before bullets start to fly. When this eventually occurs Australia will need to decide to stay out of it or choose a side. Handcuffing ourselves now to a military alliance with Japan (for the sake of a submarine) is completely irresponsible. We would be much better off obtaining the submarine technology from another country without threatening our entire economy. Cheers
The ramifications of this report, if true, are enormous. It puts a new perspective on the opportunity cost of the RAN gaining access to Japanese submarine technology. I'm not a military expert but travel extensively throughout Asia on business. I am indirectly involved in the mining industry and cognisant of the fact 30% of Australia's exports currently go to China. 300 million Chinese (the population of USA) will move from the countryside to the cities within the next 15 years and the demand for Australia's raw materials will surge. By 2030 it's not unreasonable to suggest 50% of our exports will go to the Chinese. Our economy, living standards and defense budget will be totally dependent upon trade with this one country. Pardon the pun but we have put all our eggs in one basket.
Most Australians are unaware of the deep seated animosity between China and Japan. It all stems from the atrocities committed on the Chinese population by the Japanese military 70 years ago. In Australia post WW2 it was not uncommon for my grandparents generation to avoid buying Japanese products. Understandably they were disgusted by first hand stories of diggers being murdered and tortured whilst prisoners of the Japanese. As time went by the following generations of Australians mellowed in their opinion of the Japanese and today the atrocities are almost forgotten.
Not so in China. Commencing in primary school the Chinese kids are taught how the Japanese butchered their way through China in the 1930-40's. The infamous Unit 731 and their biological experiments. The Nanjing massacre. The Changde massacre whereby the Japanese released fleas infected with bubonic plague from aircraft above the city. Every event and gory detail is described and discussed. Kids are encouraged to stand up in class and vent their anger. Teachers win awards by writing scathing critiques about the Japanese occupation. It has basically become part of the school syllabus. Most of my Chinese friends are in their 20's and they were all exposed to this indoctrination. Not surprisingly they all despise the Japanese.
Which brings me to crux of the issue. The Chinese population hates the Japanese. Rather than lessen over time this deep seated hate and anger has gotten worse with each generation. Sit down for a meal with an ordinary Chinese family and listen to what they have to say about the Japanese. It's like Jews talking about the Nazi's. Drive through the major Chinese cities and you will see huge billboards adjacent to the freeways saying "The Diaoyu Islands belong to China". Owners of Japanese cars in China, in an attempt to stop their windows from being smashed, display bumper stickers saying they are Chinese. Some western commentators falsely believe this anti-Japanese agenda is for internal consumption to keep focus away from the government. Nothing could be more from the truth. The Chinese population and military is gagging for a chance to settle the score with Japan. It is only a matter of time before bullets start to fly. When this eventually occurs Australia will need to decide to stay out of it or choose a side. Handcuffing ourselves now to a military alliance with Japan (for the sake of a submarine) is completely irresponsible. We would be much better off obtaining the submarine technology from another country without threatening our entire economy. Cheers
