Stress with China and Japan

­            What is stress?  How does one define this overwhelming feeling?  The dictionary definition is “a specific response by the body to a stimulus, as fear or pain, that disturbs or interferes with the normal physiological equilibrium of an organism.”  (Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/stress?s=t )  Now substitute the word “organism” with “country” and stress takes on an enormous burden.  Recently, stressed countries have been falling deeper into tense states of upheaval.  A quintessential example of this is the conflict between Japan and China which are currently dealing with a dispute over the Diaoyu (Chinese name)/Senkaku (Japanese) islands in the East China Sea.  Both countries claim ownership of these islands and neither side is willing to loosen their grasp.  Japan and China have not seen eye to eye for centuries but this conflict has led to political, economic, and social stress and tension that has not been felt in both countries for decades.  Japan’s 12.6 billion dollars of investments in China puts both countries in an awkward situation.  China cannot afford to continue burning down Japanese factories and kick Japan out of their country because that will cripple the Chinese economy.  Equally, Japan cannot just leave China and all it has invested there.  Both economies are no longer on a peaceful, easy rise.  Their political chess game is causing economic instability in both countries.

            Socially, especially in China, these countries are beyond tense.  At first large anti-Japanese riots broke out in China, but they have begun turning against China and some are even protesting anti-communism sentiments.  For China to maintain their government, they need to have the people pleased and silent.  Initially, it seemed good that the Chinese could rally together under a common cause against an old foe, but when the common Chinese man is given a voice, it starts to backfire and the stress of the citizens’ daily lives are seen for others to witness. This becomes dangerous for China. 

            The official communications between China and Japan are strained and overtly rude.  They are each ignoring envoys and ambassadors at various meetings and canceling many pre-made plans between the countries.  There have been political shifts in both countries so each government needs to portray itself as powerful and in control.  It is safe to say that the “normal physiological equilibrium” of China and Japan has been “disturbed” and “interfered” with.  Unfortunately, national stress affects a wide spectrum of people and spans the globe.  This conflict over a few islands in the East China Sea is not aiding the economic recovery the world needs. 

"Please choose the way of peace. ... In the short term there may be winners and losers in this war that we all dread. But that never can, nor never will justify the suffering, pain and loss of life your weapons will cause. " ~Mother Theresa