This year is the 10th anniversary of China's Belt and Road Initiative, and the 3rd Belt and Road International Summit Cooperation Forum was held in China, which is a global event. We note that the forum was attended by participants from more than 140 countries and more than 30 international organizations.
This also includes the heads of state of Russia, Indonesia, Thailand, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Serbia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Chile and other countries to participate directly!It can be clearly seen that the Belt and Road Initiative initiated by China has had an extremely far-reaching impact on the world, and the scope and depth of cooperation have reached an unprecedented level. This is a representation of China's strength and a practical embodiment of China's influence.
Under such a premise, some friends may have noticed such a picture in the relevant pictures released by the recent summit forum. The flags of the participating countries appeared at the dinner table of the summit, and among these flags, the national flag of Japan was prominently displayed. What's going on?You know, until now, Japan has refused to join the Belt and Road Initiative, and is not a member state at all, so why does Japan's flag appear on the top of the table of the Belt and Road Forum?
Actually, this time, no one from Japan came to participate. However, former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama came to China to participate in this forum on behalf of his own organization. In view of international etiquette and some of the efforts made by the former Japanese prime minister vis-à-vis China and Japan, it is reasonable for Japan to make such an arrangement.
At the same time, we also noticed that on the afternoon of the 18th, at the site of the forum summit, the former Japanese prime minister also made a special speech. In his speech, Yukio Hatoyama first highly recognized and appreciated the remarkable and brilliant achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative in the past decade. But at the same time, he expressed his regret that Japan did not participate in the Belt and Road Initiative. The former Japanese prime minister lamented that three years and nine months have passed since his visit to Japan in January 2020, and it is very emotional to be able to meet my Chinese friend on such an occasion.
After expressing his regret and feelings, Yukio Hatoyama also put forward an idea of his own, saying that he sincerely hoped that Japan and China would take more proactive measures in the general direction of becoming a bridge between China and the United States, easing tensions, and establishing effective cooperation.
It should be said that among the successive Japanese prime ministers, for us Chinese, Yukio Hatoyama is still a relatively good leader of Japan. From this person's speech, we can clearly feel the change in mood of Yukio Hatoyama in seeing the stark contrast between the brilliant achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative and the current situation of Japan not taking this economic express train.
Among Japan's previous prime ministers, this person has a relatively long-term international strategic vision and development vision. He is deeply aware that if Japan can quickly join the Belt and Road Initiative, it will be very beneficial to Japan's own economic improvement. But now that he is no longer the prime minister of Japan, he does not have much right to speak at the highest level of Japan. So I can only express my personal thoughts in this way!
So, why has Japan, as a neighboring country of China, still not participated in the Belt and Road Initiative?
Personally, I believe that this is mainly due to the following reasons.
1. Japan itself is naturally wary of initiatives led by Japan. Fearing that China will accelerate its own development in this way, Japan believes that this will not benefit itself. Moreover, for many years, the Japanese subconscious have always believed that their own economy and corresponding influence are no worse than China's, and now they have to join this economic model advocated by China, and Japan does not feel the need to accept it.
2. Japan has never considered itself a weak country in its heart, whether in the military or economic fields, Japan considers itself to be an independent and highly developed country. Under such a premise, Japan is more likely to rely on some overseas cooperation projects promoted by itself, rather than riding or relying on the help and free riding of other countries.
3. U.S. constraints. On the economic front, the United States certainly does not want to see closer ties between Japan and China.