Rise of Nationalism in Contemporary Asia

GUI Yongtao

July 29, 2013Waseda University

August 2011, Hanoi, Chinese embassy

May 2012, Manila, Chinese embassy

August 2012, Korean President on Dokdo (Takeshima)

September 2012, Tokyo, Japanese right-wing groups

September 2012, Beijing, Japanese embassy

Rise of nationalism in Asia

� China

� Japan

� South Korea

� Vietnam

� Philippines

� Interdependence vs. mutual suspicion

Territorial nationalism?

� Two forms of territorial nationalism

– Love of homeland: national liberation

– Geopolitical thought: competition for sphere of influence (sea power, land power), lebensraum: war among great powers

� Contemporary Asia

– Competing for uninhabited or unknown islands, rocks, banks, reefs

– Homeland nostalgia?

– Bases for power competition?

Resource nationalism?

� Offshore oil and gas

� fishing

� South Korea and Japan competing for resources?

� Ordinary Vietnamese engaging in oil exploration?

Historical nationalism?

� Aggression and colonialism in history

� Historical justice and reconciliation not realized

� Territory plus history– South Korea, China: island disputes linked to history

� China-Philippines?– no history issue, current relations amicable

Is the U.S. manipulating behind the scenes?

� U.S. strategy of rebalancing toward Asia

– China seen as geopolitical competitor

– Problems not between Asian countries, but between the U.S. and China

� Divergence in U.S. policy

– China-Japan dispute: non-involvement

– South Korea-Japan dispute: pacifying

� Balance diplomacy in Asia

– Benefit and cost of introducing U.S. influence

National dignity and national interests

� Philippines, Vietnam– Equality for smaller countries

� South Korea, Japan– Competition for regional influence and status

� China– Respect by regional countries and no interference by

the U.S.

� Symbolic meaning of individual issues– Prefer national dignity over national interests

International background

� The rise of China

– Asymmetrical distribution of power

– Asymmetrical interdependence

Domestic background

� Elite nationalism

– Japan: Shintaro Ishihara

– Philippines: Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party and the president

– South Korea: the president

– China: growing confidence among elites

� Popular nationalism

– Vietnam: the youth, retired officials and armymen, scholars, NGOs

– China: the discontented mass

– South Korea: the history issue

Interaction between the government and the public

� Weak government, strong public participation

– Surge of nationalism (South Korea)

� Weak government, weak public participation

– Nationalism used for short-term political purposes (Japan, Philippines)

� Strong government, strong public participation

– Tension between the public and the government (China, Vietnam)

The spiritual aspect of international relations

� Nationalism is natural emotion

� Nationalism is irrational and harms foreign relations

Nationalism in contemporary Asia

� Sources of nationalism

– Asymmetry in international order

– Asymmetry in domestic society

� Way forward

– Mutual benefit plus mutual respect

Thank you!