Without Japan and the Japanese success story, there would be no role model for the East Asian nations.
November 30, 2023
I found the following Japanese translation of Mahathir's "If Japan Didn't Exist" speech online.
Le Clézio should also pay close attention to this.
East Asia was the Far East in the European-centered world of the past.
The Far East conjured up strange and mysterious impressions, including images of exotic China and dragons, tea, opium, fine silk, and unusual people with odd customs.
European romantics are no longer interested now that the Far East has become East Asia.
Instead, it has become the focus of politicians and economists.
Europe's concerns about Asia suggest that this region already poses a more severe threat than Japanese militarism in the first half of this century.
Underlying this view is distrust and fear.
The reason for this is that East Asian people are different from us; they are not Europeans.
For this reason, although Germany and Italy, the Axis powers in Europe after World War II, were encouraged and welcomed to become peaceful nations and prosper, similar to the economic development of Japan and the "Little Japan" " in the Far East, which has become a peaceful nation, seems not to be welcomed very well.
On the contrary, both Europe and the United States, which had transplanted European society, have used various means to try to suppress the growth of East Asian countries.
In addition to imposing Western democratic models, Japan has also openly sought to undermine the economic competitiveness of East Asian countries.
It is unfortunate.
The world has learned much from East Asia's development approach.
Understanding that militarism is counterproductive, Japan has poured its advanced technology and energy into building a society where both the poor and the rich can live comfortably.
The Japanese succeeded in reducing costs without compromising quality, making what was once a luxury available to everyone.
Without using any magic, he produced results that can be called miraculous.
Imagine a world without Japan.
Without Japan, Europe and America would dominate the world's industrialized nations.
The West would have set standards and prices, and countries worldwide would have been forced to pay those prices to buy products that could only be made in the West.
Western countries, which constantly strive to raise the standard of living of their citizens, are likely to offset cost increases by raising prices because they have no competition.
They will pay whatever wages the union deems reasonable based on socialist and egalitarian ideas.
Europeans accept all demands from the unions, so reasonable demands from management are ignored.
Costs will rise because the amount of work will decrease, and wages will increase.
Prices for raw materials exported from poor southern countries are fixed at the lowest level because the only buyers are northern European countries.
As a result, the position of southern countries in the market weakens.
Loans and aid are given in exchange for raising the prices of exported goods.
As the terms of trade continue to be unfavorable to the countries of the South, poor countries become poorer and less independent.
They are forced to meet even stricter loan conditions and fall into a state of "debt slavery."
*Economic experts around the world will realize that the One Belt, One Road strategy that China is currently implementing is a rehash of the colonial policies of the West*
The price of every product in northern Europe will be three times what it is now, so poor southern countries won't be able to buy televisions, radios, or the household appliances we now take for granted. Small farmers won't be able to purchase pickup trucks or small cars. Right.
In general, countries in the South will be forced to live at a much lower standard of living than they currently do.
Neither the economic development of some countries in the South nor the birth of the powerful industrial nations of East Asia would have been possible.
Multinational companies invested in southern countries in search of cheap labor precisely because they had no choice but to compete with Japan.
Without competition from Japan, there would be no investment in developing countries.
Since there is no investment from Japan, foreign investment is not expected to stimulate growth.
Furthermore, without Japan and its success story, East Asian countries would have nothing to emulate.
They would continue believing they could not compete in the industrial fields that Europe had developed and perfected.
The advanced industry was impossible in East Asia.
At best, they produced imitation products of inferior quality.
Therefore, the West feared no "tigers'' or "dragons'', namely Asia's rapidly growing Newly Industrializing Economies (NIES), such as Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan.
Japan has proven that it can do well in East Asian countries.
Other East Asian countries dared to try, and their successes surprised them and the rest of the world.
East Asians no longer suffer from an inferiority complex.
We now believe in Japan and our strength, and we proved it.
If Japan did not exist, the world would look completely different.
It is no exaggeration to say that the rich North was getting more prosperous, and the poor South was getting poorer.
Northern Europe would have ruled the world forever.
Countries like Malaysia would have continued to grow rubber, mine tin, and sell it at asking prices to customers in wealthy industrialized countries.
This scenario may be disputed.
However, it is quite possible.
If you imagine what would happen if Japan didn't invest in Europe and America and kept all its funds domestically, wouldn't the result be fairer?
Europeans will have to pay higher prices for homegrown products and cannot afford high-class lifestyles.
(snip)
In fact, Europe lives above its means.
Europeans work far too little and are paid far too much.
Europe cannot expect the rest of the world to support this extravagance.
European countries want a higher standard of living and a healthier environment for their citizens, but they are unwilling to make sacrifices.
When it was suggested that Europe should accept a lower standard of living and preserve the environment, European countries expressed intense displeasure.
However, Europe is asking poorer countries to refrain from exploiting their natural resources, which are needed to sustain the environment in the North.
In short, "poor countries should sacrifice themselves for rich countries.''
However, rich countries are not willing to make sacrifices.
There was a time when Asian countries looked to the West for guidance and models when it came to "Look West."
The time may have come for Europe to "Look East" and seek these things from Asia.
I don't know if you consider me East Asian or Southeast Asian.
Either way, I have to admit that my views are influenced by the fact that I am not only Southeast Asian but also from a developing country.
Malaysia has specific ambitions.
We want to be a developed nation one day and are frustrated by being unnecessarily thwarted.
However, we believe in free trade and fair competition.
The experience of ASEAN (Association of Asian Southeast Nations) has shown that friendly competition and a willingness to learn from each other can foster economic growth.
East Asian countries could achieve the same results if willing to learn while competing.
Developing fair competition and cooperation between Europe and East Asia will help all countries prosper.
Even if Europe and the United States adopt protectionism, East Asia will not resort to protectionism.
East Asia has a competitive edge and is proving it.
For example, in 1960, the GDP of East Asia as a whole was 42% of the EC (currently the European Union), 23% of the United States, and 21% of NAFTA (North America Free Trade Agreement).
In 1990, it amounted to 67% of the EC, 47% of Western Europe, 73% of the USA, and 64% of NAFTA.
East Asia's intraregional trade is also growing in absolute terms and as a share of world trade.
East Asia has achieved this without resorting to protectionism and despite many obstacles.
Along the way, East Asian countries have improved the quality of life not only for their citizens but also for the poor worldwide.
The success of East Asian countries is not due to magic.
What Japan has achieved, other countries in East Asia have been able to accomplish to varying degrees.
Similarly, European countries can do so as well.
A critical factor in this success is the willingness to accept a lower standard of living when people cannot afford to maintain a higher standard of living.
East Asian countries are willing to do so.
If we force ourselves to maintain a high standard of living, we will lose competitiveness.
Instead, Europeans must ask themselves if their ways are wise and accept reality.
Then, Europe and East Asia can cooperate for mutual benefit.
However, no matter the circumstances, East Asia's growth must continue.
East Asia has the right to develop.
2024/5/25 in Kyoto
