蜡笔小新的妹妹真人:Earthquake, maybe a major turning point for Japan

来源：百度文库编辑：九乡新闻网时间：2024/04/18 19:25:48

Earthquake, maybe a major turning point for Japan

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Nightmare vision: The devastated Japanese coastal town of Ishinomaki

An opportunity to make reforms

As the Japanese recover from a giant earthquake and village-leveling tsunami with their classic resilience, their leaders might recall this: The most devastating earthquake of the 20th century was also a trigger for a major turning point in history.

Not all natural disasters have silver linings, of course, but a country can often learn key lessons or use them to make reforms it has put off. Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan made a start toward helping Japan achieve long-stalled changes by stating Sunday that his country is now facing its most difficult challenge since World War II. He called on people to unite. Indeed, the hard-bitten political opposition vowed cooperation, especially in raising emergency funds to help in the recovery from the quake – money that might also stimulate the economy.

The Japanese certainly know big reforms are long overdue. Their economy has been largely stagnant for nearly two decades, unable to shake off falling prices and rising debt. China’s economy surpassed Japan’s last year.

Politics, too, is polarized by scandals and paralysis. A national mood of gloom and defeatism prevails – a far cry from the “Japan as No. 1” days of the late 1970s.

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Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan attends a meeting on crisis of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in Tokyo, Japan, March 15, 2011.

The first reform coming out of Friday’s quake should be truth telling. As in a few past cases of radiation leaks from some of Japan’s 55 nuclear power plants, officials were vague and often late in revealing details about the explosions and reactor overheating at the Fukushima plant. They were right to be cautious about evacuating nearby residents, but not forthcoming enough about the leaks.

The nation’s resolve would also be bolstered by swift action in the Diet, or parliament, to pass a budget and raise the consumption tax. Both steps would be a start to putting Japan’s fiscal house in order. Japan’s debt is twice the gross domestic product (GDP), of any other developed country. With a rapidly aging society, Japan needs to boost tax revenues and make other financial reforms.

Improve international image

Despite the horrific scenes of destruction, Japan may emerge from its quake-tsunami disaster with a stronger international brand-name as the nation's resilience wins wide praise.

Television stations around the world have broadcast the footage of the seismic waves as they razed homes and carried away cars as if they were toys, stranding dazed survivors on the brutalized landscape.

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Some experts believe the earthquake could change the narrative about Japan to one of rebirth after years in which the country was identified with feeble economic growth, an aging population and revolving-door governments.

But coverage has also shown another side -- Japanese showing calm as they search for loved ones or wait for basic necessities. There is not a hint of looting or violence, even as residents line up at half-empty stores.

Entries on the English-language blogosphere speak of the Japanese as "stoic" and wonder the reaction in Western countries would be to a disaster of similar magnitude.

Harvard University professor Joseph Nye said that the disaster may turn out to benefit Japan's "soft power" -- a term he coined to describe how nations achieve their goals by appearing more attractive to others.

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Chinese rescue team

Offers hope for diplomatic opening

While the world is focused on the human tragedy in Japan, the mega-disaster may also bring a diplomatic opening as the United States and neighbors reach out to the newly vulnerable nation.

The United States, whose relations with its long-time ally have been strained over military issues, has mounted a wide-scale relief effort dubbed "Operation Tomodachi" – the Japanese word for friendship.

South Korea, where memories of Japanese colonial rule remain vivid, has seen an outpouring of sympathy and assistance for quake victims. China and Russia, which both have rocky relations with Japan, have also offered support.

"For most of the post-war period, Japan was seen as this economic behemoth in the region, an extremely prosperous country that had it all," said Weston Konishi, an Asia expert at the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis.

"I think the image of Japan may have changed in the eyes of its regional neighbors. It is no longer all-powerful Japan, but a country that really needs their help," he said.

In China, Premier Wen Jiabao has offered any assistance needed. But the rescue teams from China are much smaller than those from South Korea and the United States, and Beijing has concentrated on the safety of its own nationals.

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