Japan the Toothless Tiger

by Declan Hayes

The current economic and political balance of power in Asia is shifting away from Japan, which once dominated Asia through sheer financial muscle, to China, which is beginning to fill the vacuum left by the gradual U.S. withdrawal from the region. Now journalist, author, and Asian-economic expert Declan Hayes thoroughly examines how this shift is taking place and what effects it will have both in Asia and the West.

Japan, The Toothless Tiger, addresses not only the historic role the U.S. has played in maintaining peace in Asia, but also explores the threat China poses to its neighbors' economic and political sovereignty. In his fast-paced, literary style Hayes explains the urgent need for Japan to re-balance the scales by developing nuclear arms, armaments, and missile defense systems capable of protecting its own national interests as well as the balance of power in Asia. Is protection possible without triggering a massive arms race with China? Japan, The Toothless Tiger is a must read for anyone interested in the changing face of the Asian political economy and the effects that this drastic shift will likely have on the West.

Genres: Politics

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2001

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was published before 9/11 and needs an update to reflect the last 14 years. For example, China has become more powerful, North Korea has new leadership, and of course there was a major earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in 2011. I thought that the book had been updated since its publication but at least the Kindle version has not been.

Still, it is an interesting assessment of Japan's situation at the beginning of the century, and much of it has proven to be accurate.

[Novita Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another pick-up from discounted piles, first published in 2001, while the second came in 2014. It was my first book on Japan, and a military one in particular. Amidst the current situation of continual missile tests conducted by North Korea, Taiwan's insecurities over China's determination to reincorporate her into its regime, South China Sea disputes in addition to declining America's regional power in Asia-Pacific (eventually), I believe this book laying out a pretty concise analysis on such a large topic in only 192 pages. Many new fascinating information I got and it did a good job in keeping me wanting to find out more, though I got considerably annoyed by repetitive statement that Japan needs to rearm, and bias opinion that putting China as the antagonist. Recommend this book? Of course. If you are not well versed in foreign affairs like myself, then I recommend this book for a good starter. But if you are a foreign policy/politics nerd of the highest calibre, I think you'll find this book lack of depth and detail here and there. But again I did enjoy reading it, I hope everyone, no matter which category they belong in, will.

[Irfan Muhaimin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jepun menjadi harimau Asia setelah menang perang melawan China dikenali perang Sino- Jepun dan menenatang Russia. Cerita berubah apabila Jepun kalah perang dunia kedua menentang US dan rakan sekutu. Disebabkan itu Jepun dikenali "The Toothless Tiger". Walaupun buku ini lebih 20 tahun tapi isu mash tetap sama dan konsisten. Jepun menerima ancaman dari Korea Utara disebabkan pengakalan tentera US ada di Okinawa. China juga memberi tentangan yang sama atas beberapa is sempadan di beberapa pulau dan kehadiran tentera US dia Laut Jepun. Tindakan Jepun dilihat terpaksa kerana agresif jiran sekeliling dan memerima tempias yang sama iaitu Taiwan yang mash terus menerus diugut oleh China dengan banyak rentetan. Sama juga Vietnam menerima nasib yang sama tetapi begitu keras dengan Tekanan China. Jepun memerlukan strategi baru mengatasi isu geopolitik dalam masa sama ingin mebebas diri dilihat berada di belakang US. Strategi ialah menggandakan industri pembuatan setara atau lebih daripada jenama Barat, penghasilan kelengkapan tentera melalui pemindahan teknologi dan perkukuhan hububfan diplomatik antara negara

[Amy Chavez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just because this book is outdated (pub. 2001) doesn't mean the book isn't good. It was meant to be read over 2 decades ago, so unfair to judge it on current sociopolitical grounds. That said, it provides a good background of the he situation Japan faced then, and many of the points still hold today. I didn't care for the pedantic attitude of the writer, and wondered why he added a couple chapters at the end about domestic disasters that have little to do with escalating international conflicts, but enjoyed playing the textual wargames and scenarios the author put forth regarding Japan's vulnerability in East Asia, and what it needs to do to protect itself.

[Darmawan Eka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard book

[Darcee Kraus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and emotionally challenging. I feel enlightened of the politics as well as many peoples' suffrage.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting bit of history although it came across a little biased and ranting.