Text Chapter 38 Japan's Ambition

Japanese Prime Minister Kaifu Toshiki was elected as the Prime Minister of Japan on August 9, 1989 as a candidate of the Liberal Democratic Party. He ended his career as Prime Minister at the end of 1991. He experienced the peak of Japan's bubble economy and the initial stage of the collapse of the stock market and real estate. This Prime Minister who was in power for 812 days also became one of the longest-serving Prime Ministers in Japan in the 1990s.

Of course, the economic difficulties of the Soviet Union also gave this confident Prime Minister of an economic power hope to recover the four northern islands. In April this year, Gorbachev, as the first former Soviet president after World War II, visited Japan in April 1991. Kaifu Toshiki agreed to provide assistance to the former Soviet Union's economic crisis and put forward the request to recover the four northern islands occupied by the former Soviet Union. Of course, Gorbachev refused.

Kaifu Toshiki changed his strategy because he received news from his friends in the White House that after the Soviets disbanded the army, they would start with the navy, especially the Pacific Fleet. This was a great thing for Japan. If he could resolve the issue of the Northern Four Islands, which had been in a standoff for nearly half a century, he would become one of the greatest prime ministers in Japanese history.

So he urgently summoned the Director of the Japanese Defense Agency, Nakatani Gen, to analyze the possibility of taking back the Northern Four Islands from the Soviet Union this time.

So far, Kaifu Toshiki is still optimistic about the sustainable development of the Japanese economy. He believes that Japan has now become a world-class economic power, so it should actively seek the rights of a political power. If it can open a gap in the international events of the Soviet Union, Japan's performance will surely impress Western countries.

"Mr. Prime Minister, you said that we should negotiate with a tough attitude on the issue of the four northern islands of the Soviet Union? Isn't this a bit abrupt? After all, we haven't prepared enough bargaining chips on this issue." Nakatani Gen is younger than Kaifu Junshu and considers issues more carefully. If the US-Japan Security Treaty had not restricted the use of his talents, Nakatani Gen would be much better than the mediocre defense ministers in history. From the fact that he later proposed to abolish the civilian control system after serving as defense minister, it is known that his ambition is no less than that of his ancestors' war criminals.

"Mr. Nakatani Gen, you should know that the Soviet Union is on the verge of collapse. If we put diplomatic pressure on it at this time, there should be hope to take back the four northern islands from the Soviet Union. Even if we can't take back those islands 100%, but only take back some of them, at least we can make a big fuss at the negotiation table and force the Soviet Union to retreat and compromise." Kaifu Junshu paced back and forth, and he was very excited when he thought of the expression of the bear eating in his hands. For more than half a century, except for the Russo-Japanese War, Japan has not taken advantage of Russia.

Of course, Japan is still on the verge of an economic bubble collapse, and the false prosperity did not make Kaifu Junshu realize the signs of the next economic decline.

"Think about it, we have been suppressed by the Soviet Union militarily for nearly a hundred years, and we can finally use economic means to sanction these Siberian barbarians today." Kaifu Junshu became more and more excited as he spoke, and he was eager to draw up a plan to negotiate with the Soviet Union now.

"Or we can wait for a while, and wait until the Soviets really disband the Pacific Fleet before proposing to them the negotiation request for the Northern Four Islands." Nakatani Gen made a more compromising suggestion to Kaifu Junshu, and the dying polar bear jumped up and bit Japan with a last-ditch effort, which could also bite out a shocking blood hole.

"No, no, no, I can't wait any longer. We have to confront the Soviets now. Things change over time, Nakatani Gen. Didn't you see that the newly appointed Soviet President Yanayev is preparing a new round of institutional reforms? If the Soviet Union comes out of the crisis, it means that our chances of regaining the four northern islands will become slim again." Kaifu Junshu sat back in his chair. He also had his own considerations. According to his direct judgment, this is the most difficult period for the Soviet Union, and it is also an excellent opportunity for the Japanese to take advantage of the fire.

"I will visit the Maritime Self-Defense Force in a few days. Mr. Nakatani Gen, please make full preparations and show the heroic spirit of our Self-Defense Force in front of the media." At the end, the Prime Minister added, "If the Soviets refuse to give in, we will drag the Americans into this storm. I believe that they will not miss such a good opportunity to force the Soviet Union after suffering a loss on the Baltic issue."

Isn't this just being the dogs of the Americans again? Nakatani Gen muttered quietly, but he couldn't say it out loud, so he just nodded perfunctorily, planning how to use Kongo-class destroyers to show the might of the Japanese Navy without being dwarfed by the Kiev-class aircraft carriers.

"Okay, Prime Minister. I will definitely make everyone look at the Maritime Self-Defense Force with new eyes." Nakatani Gen nodded seriously, dealing with public relations issues is his strong point.

But Kaifu Junshu forgot one thing, the Soviet Navy at its most prosperous period could have four fleets hold war exercises in different waters at the same time, and Japan's so-called Maritime Self-Defense Force is far from reaching such a height. Ninety years ago, Japan could bully the declining Tsarist Russia by chance, and ninety years later, the lucky Japan is no longer a match for the declining red polar bear.

Toshiki Kaifu is also a man of his word. Within a few days, he announced an official visit to the Maritime Self-Defense Force and landed on a Kongo-class destroyer that the Japanese are proud of on a sunny day. Nakatani Yuan indeed did things beautifully in front of the media. The brand-new gray and black destroyers were displayed in front of the media. What is also eye-catching are the tall and powerful naval images carefully selected to form the airborne early warning fleet. Helicopters and P-2 maritime patrol planes flew over Toshiki Kaifu's head. The neat and solemn lineup gave Toshiki Kaifu an unrealistic illusion of a powerful navy.

If it weren't for the fact that there were no aircraft carriers and U.S. troops stationed in Okinawa, Japanese reporters would almost have thought that they had returned to the level of the Imperial Navy during World War II.

Toshiki Kaifu stood on the destroyer, feeling overwhelmed with emotion. At the end of the visit, the Prime Minister gave a speech to the members of the Naval Self-Defense Force. The Prime Minister stood on a temporary podium set up on the ship's side deck, and all those sitting under the stage were naval personnel carefully arranged by Nakatani Gen.

At this time, the person in charge of the operation, Gen Nakatani, stood beside Toshiki Kaifu, smiled and asked softly, "Your Excellency, are you satisfied with the scene I arranged?"

Toshiki Kaifu, feeling the coolness of the sea breeze on the deck, replied with satisfaction, "Of course I am, Mr. Gen Nakatani, you have demonstrated the perfect image of our Self-Defense Forces in the new era very well."

Then he turned around and said with passionate emotion to the members of the Self-Defense Forces in the audience who were listening to his speech attentively, "I stand here today and look at everyone's enthusiasm and hope, and I am very pleased. We in Japan have experienced various things. Despite all kinds of suffering, we still have not forgotten to develop military strength to defend our country. Similarly, even in today's peaceful and stable areas, we still need our military control in some areas where disputes have not been resolved."

A reporter on the side interrupted Toshiki Kaifu's speech when he paused at the right time, "So, Prime Minister, will you really increase military investment in the Self-Defense Forces? Will this be seen as the re-emergence of the right wing of the militaristic state? ?”

Toshiki Kaifu said resolutely, "No, our Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force exists to maintain peace and unity, but this does not mean that we will ignore others' occupation of Japan's offshore islands for decades. We We insist on resolving these disputes through negotiation.”

Having said this, he stroked the cold hull of the destroyer and said slowly, "But this does not mean that our armed forces will sit idly by. Those countries that want to separate our sacred and indivisible territory, the Japanese Navy will Fight resolutely against them.”

Thunderous applause erupted from the audience. Many members of the Self-Defense Forces hope that the navy can break away from the constraints of the treaty and become a real national force. After all, every Japanese naval general has a great power dream of regaining the strength of the naval empire in World War II.

Moreover, any fool can tell which country the Japanese Prime Minister is targeting, and Toshiki Kaifu also deliberately used the name Japanese Navy instead of the Maritime Self-Defense Force. The different names indicate that the Japanese government, which has always been weak on island issues, will be prepared to retaliate this time. A tough negotiation? All of a sudden, the media took down Toshiki Kaifu's words verbatim and prepared for headlines the next day.

But everyone is wondering, will this negotiation end in vain like the previous negotiations?