A DROP OF OIL - A DROP OF BLOOD

Once an officer of the recalled the reasons for the genocidal war started by his nation in Asia. "The most important question was oil, he said. 'It was feared that as we expanded bit by bit the country would eventually face the fate of a consumptive patient who dies a miserable death by the roadside: Japan dared to sally out and secure the oil resources of south-east Asia. This, I think, was the main reason Japan started the war.' Japan's catastrophic defeat US imperialism put an end to her Asian ambitions. But now, almost 30 years later, she is casting a greedy eye over her old south-eastern possessions and again the greatest prize is oil.

So far the invading armies have been equipped strictly with briefcases. But the statements of the more exuberant enthusiasts of the new 'friendship' policy with the nations of the South China Sea have a distinct whiff of power about them.

Take this war whoop from the Mining and Coal department of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI): "The grand pulsatory motion netres of new oilfields secure 30000 Me in Asia and the approximately of the overseas resources development is a spearhead to expand the horizon of the Japanese economy in the 1970s started to every corner of the world, and is a mighty motif to give vividness to the dreamful national spirit of development, construction and enterprise.

The oil dam was opened by The mammoth companies to earch further and further ifield for new deposits.

But the problem in Japan s particularly acute. Her ecolomy is totally dependent on aw material supplies from broad and her annual 180 nillion tons of oil is entirely mported. Even so, her oil itock is only enough to sustain Browing and ravenous hunger apanese industry for 45 days -far less than the margin in especially oil. This is not a ther western imperialist :ountries.

But by 1980, Japanese oil mports are expected to soar • an incredible 750 million ons-the expansion will make ler industry immeasurably nore dependent on supplies tion becomes, and the more 'rom areas over which she has materials proceeds throughout Hence the second reason the world, the more desperate or the drive into Asia-the lesire for 'independent The international oil companies wanted to set up wholly-owned refining subsidiaries in Japan, but the Americans persuaded them to limit their share to 50 per cent.

DEPENDENT But as a compromise the oreign companies supply all the crude oil-socalled 'tied oil'. Even when completely independent oil companies were allowed to flourish, they were forced to borrow capital from the international giants and enter into obligation to buy tied oil.

At present the "tied-oil', more expensive than the 'free oil', accounts for 75 per cent of Japanese supplies and the the free areas has been encouraged by massive government help.

The Petroleum Development Public Corporation | is in charge of fostering new schemes. It used to put up 50 per cent of the capital needed by any exploring company and by 1971 the cumulative direct investment of the PDPC amounted to $200m.

But this government assistance is quite insufficient. The Japanese monopolies are now aiming at establishing enterprises large enough to sustain the enormous capital funds needed to open up the fields to exploitation.

Already an immensely powerful group is being formed. It incorporates most big business interests and threatens to bring down the law barrier against the monodevelopment, not only of oil but also of gaş, uranium and various other metals'. The PDPC will be involved with 20 odd private giants and the holding company is supposed to buy out five of the 'independent' oil-exploration companies not affiliated with the Zaibatsu groups (Japanese cartels).

EMPIRE According to the Ministry of Industry the aim of this and other developments will be to improve Japan's status in the conception of the Pacific Economic Sphere, a new economic block incorporating both underdeveloped countries as well as advanced countries, and, above all, Japan should play a leading role, entrusted to her, by combining development of her Suffering caused by the 'war for oil' in South East Asia. Left: Japanese Petro-chemical plant. (photo-Japan Information.)

through the South China Sea.

The implications have already been noted by the president of the Japanese Weapons Industry Association and chairman of the board of Mitsubishi Electric Company, Ohkubo Yuzuru. He reminded the world: In order to secure stable oil transportation from abroad, the maritime defence force in the Fourth Defence Build-up Plan must be made what it is today.' The words do not fall on deaf ears. Last October the Japanese fleet had a war game. A total of 22 warships, tour submarines, 46 other vessels, 60 planes and 1,700 soldiers were deployed in the East China Sea.