How should Japan steer its foreign policy amid
increased uncertainty in international affairs?
We want
political parties to discuss the matter fully during the campaign for the
upcoming House of Councillors election.
With the
exclusion of the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party, the
principal parties share the understanding that the Japan-U.S. alliance is the
key to Japan’s foreign policy.
The
important thing is what sort of diplomacy to carry out based on the Japan-U.S.
alliance.
In its
campaign pledges, the Liberal Democratic Party lists “pursuing proactive peace
diplomacy that takes a panoramic perspective of the globe.”
The party
advocates ramping up cooperation with Australia, India, the Asean, Europe and
other countries with which Japan shares universal values.
It has
been confirmed in recent months that Chinese military planes flew close to the
airspace around the Senkaku Islands several times, in addition to its military
vessels’ intrusion into Japan’s territorial waters.
Maintaining
a maritime order based on international law is an interest commonly shared by
the international community.
An
Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and an Asean-related summit are scheduled for
mid-July and early September, respectively.
Japan
should lead discussions in these meetings to call for China to exercise
self-restraint in its self-centered maritime advances.
In
carrying out diplomacy vis-a-vis China and North Korea, the key point is to
build a substantive relationship of trust with South Korea in addition to
beefing up the Japan-U.S. alliance based on security-related laws.
In its
campaign promises, Komeito calls for improvement of Japan-South Korea relations
and steady implementation of the bilateral agreement reached last December on
the issue of so-called comfort women.
It is
necessary to hold a Japan-China-South Korea summit meeting, in which Japan will
serve as chair, in autumn or later, and encourage forward-looking discussions
among the top leaders as the three Asian countries work toward stabilising the
Asia-Pacific region.
The
Democratic Party advocates that security measures “must be realistic nearby and
restrained far away” and calls for abolition of the security-related laws and
establishment of a territorial security law for the protection of remote
islands.
The major
opposition party says it will expand the range of Japan’s participation in U.N.
peacekeeping operations and promote humanitarian assistance proactively.
The DP
mentions “deepening of the Japan-U.S. alliance” in its campaign pledges but
stops short of presenting concrete measures that are essential.
This
leaves much to be desired.
The
party’s position is also unclear on how to deal with China’s moves to build
military strongholds in the South China Sea.
The JCP,
for its part, calls for a “diplomatic strategy for peace.”
The party
says the issue of North Korea’s nuclear and missile development can be resolved
through further six-party talks.
It is
doubtful whether North Korea’s stance of continuing missile launches in
defiance of warnings by the international community can be corrected through
conducting talks only.
Concerning
the northern territories off eastern Hokkaido, the Takeshima islets and the
Senkaku Islands, all the parties define them as inherent territories of Japan
and stress the need for disseminating information overseas on Japan’s position.
The LDP
lists a plan to establish a third-party organisation, consisting of researchers
and other experts, to study the matter.
The
external public relations strategy concerning sovereignty and territories is
becoming increasingly important.
It is
essential to hold discussions on effective strategic measures.
No comments:
Post a Comment