Editorial
DPJ gov't an opportunity for Japan to step out from U.S. skirts
The international community has undergone drastic changes over the past 20 years following the end of the Cold War. The United States has lost considerable prestige and confidence after the battering caused by the Iraq War and its war against terror in Afghanistan, and its role as the source of the global financial and economic crises.
The inauguration of President Barack Obama, who pursues international cooperation, has marked an end to the U.S. unilateralism. And, at the same time, emerging countries such as China, India and Brazil have enhanced their influence in the international community following the financial crisis, while that of the Group of Eight (G8) countries -- including Japan -- has declined.
With rapid changes occurring across the international community, Japan needs a new set of diplomatic and security principles that transcend those of the Cold War era. North Korea's nuclear test and repeated test-firing of missiles pose a new threat to Japan and have raised concerns among its public about the government's security policy.
Whenever Pyongyang carries out a provocative act, knee-jerking hardliners within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) insist that Japan should consider attacking North Korean bases and arming itself with nuclear weapons. However, calm and realistic discussions on defense policy have yet to take place.
The LDP government has regarded the Japan-U.S. alliance as the core of its diplomatic and security policy, and has called for its reinforcement. There is no denying that the Japan-U.S. alliance has contributed to the peace and security of Japan in the post-war period, and the importance of the alliance will certainly remain unchanged considering Japan's response to North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and China's military buildup.
The United States shares the same values with Japan, and even though its influence in the international community has declined, the United States still is global superpower that has built close relations with Japan in various fields including diplomacy, economy and culture.
However, the government has been criticized for just following the United States. Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who led the LDP to score a landslide victory in the last general election in 2005, forged close ties with the United States based on his personal relations with former President George W. Bush, at the expense of those with the international community. Koizumi had said: "The better Japan's relations with the United States are, the better relations Japan can build with Asian countries such as China, South Korea as well as other countries."
Now, the United States has begun to change under the leadership of President Obama. In sharp contrast, legislators who were elected under the Koizumi administration are still playing a key role in Japan's politics. Prime Minister Taro Aso declared a departure from Koizumi's structural reform policies saying, "We must break away from the excessive market fundamentalism." Nevertheless, his administration sticks to the policy of strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance as the corner of its diplomatic and security policy.
The time has come for Japan to change its policy of simply following the United States. It should seek to rebuild its relations with the United States and strengthen mutual trust with the international community -- particularly with Asian neighbors -- in response to changes in the international situation.
A secret agreement Japan signed with the U.S. under the LDP administration to allow American vessels carrying nuclear weapons to call at Japanese ports has stirred controversy, as it could run counter to Japan's three non-nuclear principles of not possessing, not producing and not introducing into Japan's territory any nuclear weapon. The government has categorically denied the existence of any such secret agreement and declared that it continues to abide by the non-nuclear principles.
However, some LDP legislators who have influence on the Defense Ministry have insisted that the government should revise the principles through public consensus to allow port calls and passage in Japan's territorial waters by vessels carrying nuclear weapons.
Opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary-General Katsuya Okada said it will disclose the secret agreement if the party takes the reins of government following the Aug. 30 general election, and calls for discussions on the principles.
"If we publicize the secret nuclear accord, we must hold policy discussions on whether we should revise the three non-nuclear principles or maintain them," he said in a recent interview with the Mainichi Shimbun.
It's an issue that cuts straight to the heart of the Japan-U.S. security arrangement, as Japan is protected under the U.S. nuclear umbrella. We would like to hear each political party's view on the issue during the election campaign.
If a DPJ-led government is formed, its relations with the United States will be tested. In its 2009 policy list that will form the basis for its manifesto for the election, the DPJ calls for establishment of the new era of the Japan-U.S. alliance and equal partnership.
In its 2008 policy list, the DPJ called for measures that could draw protests from the Washington, such as "going ahead with drastic revisions to the Japan-U.S. Status-of-Forces Agreement" and "thorough scrutiny of Japan's footing of expenses for reorganizing and stationing U.S. forces in Japan."
However, the party backed down from going ahead with revisions to the accord and stated in its 2009 policy list that it will "propose revisions." Moreover, it only calls for "continued review" on U.S. forces stationed in Japan.
Moreover, it has stopped short of touching on the Maritime Self-Defense Force's mission in the Indian Ocean to refuel U.S. and other military vessels engaging in the war against terror, to which it had expressed stiff opposition. The party has even suggested that it will agree to the continuation of the mission.
The DPJ has apparently considered reactions from voters and the United States to its policies when it softened its stance with an eye to taking over the reins of government. However, it cannot clarify the direction it is pursuing simply by changing the wording in its policies. If it changes its policies, it is required to provide a clear explanation.
If opposition parties win a majority in the Lower House following the upcoming general election, it will hold negotiations with the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) on formation of a coalition government. However, it is expected to be a major challenge for the DPJ to coordinate its policy with those of the SDP, which calls for downsizing of the Self-Defense Forces and stiffening of the three non-nuclear principles.
(Mainichi Japan) July 25, 2009