The Japanese do not want to become an 'ATM' for Ukraine
(Baonghean.vn) - Many Japanese believe that the money allocated for Ukraine would be better spent on reconstruction after the January 1 earthquake and reducing public debt. Japanese society feels "war fatigue", when there seems to be little chance of ending the conflict.
According to RT news agency on February 16, the South China Morning Post reported that more and more Japanese people are suggesting that the money given to Ukraine would be better spent on reconstruction after the January 1 earthquake and reducing public debt.
Japan will contribute 15.8 billion yen ($105 million) as it announced a series of plans to help rebuild Ukraine on February 12. Tokyo has also encouraged other countries to help the war-torn country. Ukraine is geographically far from Japan and the issue should be resolved by European countries, analysts say.
Japan has identified seven priority areas for assistance, including energy, humanitarian aid and investment in agricultural development. Heavy engineering specialist IHI plans to set up a manufacturing facility in neighboring Romania and ship parts to Ukraine for final assembly.
Japan is also funding the establishment of a new department at the Igor Sikorsky Polytechnic Institute in Kiev to teach safe placement and disposal of landmines. Japan is providing Ukraine with anti-mine equipment, medical equipment, helmets, body armor and other military equipment.
Ukraine welcomes Japan's initiative. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal told Kyodo News in an interview that Ukraine is "interested in full-scale cooperation with Japanese businesses," and that he sees "huge potential" in relations between Japanese and Ukrainian companies.
But the politicians' statements have not gone down well with the Japanese people. Yoichi Shimada, a professor of international relations at Fukui Prefectural University, said that to him, "it seems like Japan under Prime Minister Kishida's administration is turning into an ATM machine."
According to the professor, Japan must focus on threats to its own security and that means Tokyo must be ready and able to defend Japan's islands.
Agreeing with the above view, Professor of Politics Koichi Nakano of Tokyo Sophia University said that "war fatigue" has appeared among the Japanese public, as the Russia-Ukraine conflict drags on and there seems to be little chance of ending the fierce fighting./.