Claims against Japan…my view

Peter Wu

12 December 2011

I know nothing about law, especially international laws pertaining to historic claims which arise from wars and atrocities.

So I can only look at the issue Mr.Bob choi raised from a personal perspective.

If I want to make a claim against somebody for an incident happening over 70 years ago, I have to ask myself this question: how many legs do I have to stand on? More importantly, do I have any leg to stand on at all?

At this point in time, I don’t think China has got much leverage purely because China needs Japan more than Japan needs China. Why risks a fall-out with the Japs when much economic co-operation is at stake? Why risks a fall-out when there is so much more to learn from the Japs? Why risks a fall-out when international support for such a claim barely exists, if it exists at all?

China has definitely stood up in the world stage but I don’t think it’s has the clout to take on the Japs for an issue as far-reaching as this. Don’t forget the Koreans, and possibly the Filipinos are also waiting and watching in the side line.

Further down the track, the situation could well be different. But like time and tide, you have to strike while the iron is hot. By then, the iron is that much colder if not stone cold.

China’s foreign policy is pragmatic. It always looks at the big picture. If it supports the bigger foreign policy objectives, China often ignores irritants which detract from these objectives. I believe the claims against the Japs belong to one of these irritants.

Regarding the successful claims made by the Jews, I have no idea whether they were made by the State of Israel or by Jews who act on their own private capacity. However, I do believe that compensations were made on properties which were confiscated, and some work of arts were also returned to the rightful owners. I am unsure whether the Jewish victims of the Holocaust were ever compensated.

P.S If China’s claim against Japan is successful, I will also lodge a personal suit against the British Government, for colonising Hong Kong, and for turning me into a half-wit idiot who is neither good in English nor Chinese.