Chapter Nine
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better than others; 20% hoped for political stability; 16% wanted better
economic policies; and only 10% sympathized with the political posture of
Shinzǀ Abe. So, it is obvious that ordinary Japanese are calm and expect
political stability and economic policies rather than Abe’s nationalistic
political posture. It is possible to say that the military is not made a first
priority either in politics or society in Japan.
In contrast, there is enough evidence that the Chinese communist party
tries to foster nationalism in China with anti-Japanese sentiment^24 and
Sinocentrism, to the benefit of the party. Also, its nationalism is more
radical and aggressive than Japan’s. For example, we witnessed brutal
attacks against Japanese cars, shops, and factories by Chinese demonstrators
during the massive protest in September 2012, although there was no
aggressive demonstration in Japan in the same time. Moreover, according
to a recent opinion poll from August 2013,^25 17.4% of Chinese
respondents replied that a military clash between the PRC and Japan was
likely to break out within a few years, and 35.3% of respondents said one
would likely break out in the future. In contrast, only 2.4% of Japanese
respondents said that the probability of a military clash within a few years
was high, and 21.3% answered that there could be a clash in the future.
The outcome of the opinion poll naturally means the Chinese government
made an effort to instill a sense of danger in order to cultivate nationalism
and manipulate Chinese citizens with sensational TV programs and news
by national media in a belligerent tone.
Manipulation of public opinion in PRC with anti-Japan
sentiment
Since Japan declared the purchase of three of the five Senkaku Islands
from a private owner, the sentiments of the people in both Japan and the
PRC have become more antagonistic. According to an opinion poll, 90.1%
of Japanese respondents and 92.8% of Chinese responded that they had
negative feeling towards the other.
Especially shocking is the fact that the number of Chinese respondents
who replied, “I have negative feelings towards Japan,” increased as much
(^24) According to an opinion poll conducted by Japanese ‘Genron NPO’ in August
2013, 15.7% of Chinese respondents replied their nationalism was enhanced
strongly by the trouble over the Senkaku Islands and 43.6% of respondents said
their nationalism was slightly strengthened. In contrast China, only 5.7% of
Japanese respondents replied their nationalism was reinforced and 23.6% answered
slightly strengthened.
(^25) Opinion poll conducted by Genron NPO, http://www.genron-npo.net/english/.