Because of that reason, Japan has done it twice in the history, and they do NOT admit they were wrong. What makes you think they won't do it again? Look, you ought to drop your love-Japan-hate-China mindset and look at the issue from a more academic perspective. Lack of resources drive countries to wars, even the democratic countries, including US.
The word Jap is considered a racial slur. The mods don't look kindly on their use, (any racial slurs can possibly get you booted) so you might want to edit that, or not use it again. And I think you are showing more than a little paranoia to even say a thing like that, but that is my opinion. Keep D&D Civil.
You could then ask, What makes you think China won't try to even up the score? I read this funny article today about how Taiwan wants to ramp up defense spending by more than 50% by next year. Their rationale is to boost military spending to increase deterrence. It sounds familiar because China wants to do the same thing to deter Taiwan from declaring independence. Well... it's funny in the "end of the world haha" sense. It's like a Tex Avery cartoon where two characters start pointing guns at each other, while one draws out a bigger one than before.
There are a lot of questions one can ask, such as "will Jews try to even up the score against Germen" or "will Koreans try to even up the score against Japanese". But tell me who you will guard more in real life, a felony (served jail time but still think he was innocent) or his victims? We happen to be talking about a country that committed possibly the worst genocide in the history, and who refuse to admit it was wrong. Until Japan solves its low resources per capita problem, the world need to watch out for expanism and militialism rising again in Japan. Regarding Taiwan and China: I think Taiwanese would be foolish to engage in an arm race with China. First of all, Taiwan cannot keep up with China in an arm race. Secondly, China would be spending this much on military even the Taiwan issue does not exist. China is a huge country and it needs to upgrade its national defense anyway. Therefore, an arm race between China and Taiwan will only put extra burden on Taiwan.
It's all subjective....to say that Japan will do xyz because of a lack of resources is strange, because they have become so rich without expansion or militarism. It's proof that the most important resource is human capital, not oil or minerals or whatever. I admire the Japanese as a nation that aspires to be better and shows humility. While I also admire the contributions China has made to humanity, I find the Chinese government to be arrogant, defensivive, and saber-rattling - and I'm not a fan of the communist regime. And I find many of the Chinese posters here to be nothing more then tools advocating a repressive regime incapable of introspection about their nationalistic passions.
So is your answer "you don't know if this is morally offensive"? I find this very incredible coming from someone who took such a strong stand on not allowing Neo-Nazis to march through black neighborhoods. You didn't argue previously that you thought that African Americans needed to consider all perspectives. New Yorker, no personal offense intended, because I do stuff like this too, I think you are just arguing to be a reactionary.
No, it may be offensive to one person and not offensive to another. Is the act immoral in and of itself? Again, that's a question of perception. Depends on how a person defines morality. It's subjective. The reason I was staunchly against the Neo-Nazi march was because it was done with intent to intimidate another group. Intent being key. With the shrine visit, the intent is not to intimidate other nations. It's not meant to harm others. The Neo-Nazi march was designed to harm people. Now, if some Japanese marched through the streets of Beijing screaming Japanese nationalism and wearing anti-Chinese slogans - I would definitely agree that woudl be crossing the line and totally unacceptable.
Hey New Yorker, using your logic: Say a criminal named JP, entered your home, raped and killed you mom, and your sister, wrote diaries about how much he enjoyed it, was later caught and executed. Now JP junior, builds a Hall of Fame for his father, denies his father commited the killing and the raping, regrets that JP entered your home, only to protect it from criminals from other parts of the town, says sorry if JP broke a furniture or two. Now you, who gets beat up by your abusive father, is supposed to protest against your old man but not supposed to feel angry about the Hall of Fame for JP. Mean while JP junior sends flower to JP everyday. Now you know what a r****d you are. Hope this will end this thread.
Because they became the second richest nation in the world without any "resources" and with no military. Why on earth would they ever want to go to war again?
I may be a bit emotional, but I am arguing with logic; you may be indifferent because you never really know the history of Asia, that doesn't mean you are not biased. Actually, you are avoiding my questions, and you are doing that again and again in this thread. The issue is very simple in some regard. The political leader of Japan is qualified to pay tribute to the dead in the war even it is not a war for justice. However, why can't they remove the several of war criminals from the temple and make the issue much less sensitive? Answer it directly. Again, here is the analogy. If Germany prime minister is visiting the grave of Hilter today, or some political leader of a certain country visits Bin Laden's in the future. Do you have any problem with that? If your answer is NO, ok I am fine with your opinion but maybe most people don't agree with you; if your answer is YES, you are simply biased on this issue. Just admit it!
