Overview of the Regional Fissures

Essay Topic Two: Regional Fissures
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Essay Topic Two: Regional Fissures
Overview of the regional fissures
Japan, South Korea (Korea), Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines have experienced fissures that have sometimes threatened the progress of the nations. In Japan, the main challenge has been the tensions between Tokyo and Okinawa. The problem started in 1972 when the gruesome 1945 Battle of Okinawa ended in 1972 (Vogt, 2022: 224). After Japan’s surrender, Allied forces were determined to demilitarize the nation and ensure it does not wage war again (Allinson, 1997:76). In the 1960s, the then–Prime Minister Eisaku Sato had called for Okinawa’s reversion. He believed the move would “mark the end of the postwar period for the nation” (Vogt, 2022: 224). However, little progress has been made over the years as 70% of the US military bases in Japan are stationed in Okinawa than being spread to other areas. The locals in Okinawa feel that they bear a larger burden than other regions.
In Korea, the main problem is the electoral cleavages because of regionalism. The antagonism between southwest and southeast has filed sharp divisions in political views. Koo (2017: Para 1) quotes a 2008 article by wire agency Yonhap that “If the U.S. has racism, South Korea has regionalism.” The problem of regionalism has caused political cleavage in Korea. Such cleavages have caused strong antagonism in the nation, threatening the emergence of separatist movements in the affected regions.
In Indonesia, there are various lessons to be learned about handling autonomy/secession immediately after the fall of Suharto. Aspinall (2013: 127) indicates that following the fall of Suharto, “early signs of separatist contagion in Indonesia seemed to herald a disintegrative mobilizational spiral.” Indonesia was on the verge of breaking up like the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. The two ethno-federal states had demonstrated that multiethnic states could easily disintegrate with the secessionist regions becoming recognized nation-states. According to Aspinall (2013: 129), many thought that Indonesia needed to embrace decentralization “it wanted to avoid the fate of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia”
The Philippines had experienced decades of armed conflict in Muslim Mindanao. The 40 years of conflict had “killed more than 120,000 persons and displaced millions” (Hutchcroft, 2016: 2). However, the culmination of the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government has brought a period of calmness. In 2019, the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) brought hope to the people that communities could coexist.
The conflict in southern Thailand has caused casualties over the years. The Thai government has been in bitter rivalry with separatists like the Barisan Revolution Nasional (BRN) separatists. According to the International Crisis Group (19 April 2022:1), the conflict has caused the death of more than 7,300 people since 2004. However, in January 2022, the official dialogue between the Thai government and BRN resumed. The two sides promised to reduce violence during the month of Ramadan. For a long time, BRN has undertaken rebellion marked by “sabotage, assassinations of alleged state collaborators, improvised explosive device attacks and small-scale ambushes on security forces” (International Crisis Group, 19 April 2022:1). The Thai government has been responding through increased cordon-and-search operations.
Japan
Major positive trends
The emergence of young voters who are more conservative in Okinawa indicates that tensions with Tokyo are more likely to reduce in the future. Most people engaged in civic and political activism are of regiment age (Vogt, 2022: 229). Young people are more apolitical and less likely to engage in activities that create regional fissures. The young voters will promote political tolerance and reduce the tensions between the two factions in the future.
Further, Okinawa’s strategic location makes it critical for Tokyo, the US, and the locals. For the US, Okinawa has remained a strategic location for military purposes. The US cannot risk the secession of Okinawa because this will jeopardize its military bases in the region. Tokyo understands the need to ensure that the current fissure does not escalate. Japan understands that the secession of Okinawa will adversely affect the country's stability. For the Okinawans, the presence of the US military bases provides a sense of security in the region. The peaceful region has made it a top tourist destination (Kwok & Kwon, 2021: Para 1). Tourism continues to benefit the local people.
Major negative trends
The continued opposition by the Okinawans to military bases demonstrates the lack of progress on the long-standing tensions between Tokyo and Okinawa. One instance is the strong opposition to constructing a new US military base in Henoko. A referendum demonstrated that 72% opposed the ongoing construction (Vogt, 2022: 227). The referendum's outcome sent a clear anti-base to the Tokyo government that the people are dissatisfied with the heavy military presence in the region.
The fissure in Japan is the easiest to resolve. According to Reed (1993: 13), while there are exceptions, “Today Japan is a remarkably nonviolent society.” Such a society makes it possible for the aggrieved parties to come together and find a solution. Further, the probability of the fissure escalating further is low. Conservatives have ruled continuously in Japan since 1949 (Reed (1993: 14). The Socialists were represented in government once from 1947 to 1949. Hence, the Conservatives do not pose the threat of escalating the tensions between Tokyo and Okinawa further. The ruling government can handle the issue and ensure it does not escalate into violence or secession.
Indonesia
Major positive trends
The government continues to apply the lessons learned following the fall of Suharto, which has been instrumental in containing separatist movements. Firstly, the national leaders remain open to concessions with the regions. The fall of Suharto brought about pressures for autonomy and secession. However, the national leaders decided to cede greater control over the local elites and political dissidents (Aspinall, 2013: 128). Secondly, Indonesia maintained its institutional form before the democratization process. In Suharto's years, many thought that the unitary state, as opposed to states in a federation, was a possible cause of fragility (Aspinall, 2013: 128). However, provinces in a unitary state ensured that local elites did not use the federal republics as weapons against the central government. Since the national leadership has maintained the same institutional approach, there will likely be fewer secessions in the future.
Major negative trends
The Joko Widodo’s government has been excluding Papuans in policymaking. Instead, the government has spit “Papua into multiple provinces to contain the threat of separatism” (Anwar, 2022: Para 1). The government considers the move critical in accelerating development and bringing the government closer to the people. However, the residents believe that the government indents to exploit regional political divides rather than address human rights abuses and marginalization. The government’s bulldozing its way into creating new provinces without meaningful consultation is likely to spur severest movements.
Indonesia is the second easiest country to resolve fissures resulting from separatist...