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Similarly, in the 90s everyone thought Japan was going to eclipse the US economically, and (to my recollection) they weren't seen as geopolitical rivals to the
by repsilat 8y ago
Similarly, in the 90s everyone thought Japan was going to eclipse the US economically, and (to my recollection) they weren't seen as geopolitical rivals to the US.
Maybe it has something to do with population size, but IMO it is more to do with their economic structure and system of government. Japan is a democracy, and they believe in markets. Since War 2 they also seem a little less pushy with their neighbours...
- supergirl 8y agothey can't be a rival to the US when their defense is provided by the US and they host 50k US military units (vs. 250k currently active units in the whole japanese army).
- changchuming 8y agoI don't think your recollection is entirely accurate. The Plaza Accords was signed for a reason.
- ethbro 8y agoInteresting fact. Circa-1910 (from memory) there was major anxiety about immigrant Japanese workers taking low-wage jobs in the US. To the extent that Japan was encouraged and did "voluntarily" limit migration. How the wheel of time turns... different players, same games.