How nonsensical it is for Japan to continue its submission to United States
-- Akahata editorial: January 16, 2002

In a speech in Singapore, Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro, who was on a tour of ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) countries, stressed that "the role to be played by the United States is indispensable," and that "Japan will continue to enhance its alliance with the United States."

At a news conference he emphasized that the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty is the pivot of Japan's foreign relations.

But, ASEAN countries knew they were receiving a Japanese prime minister who has tried hard to sell his pro-U.S. position to U.S. President George W. Bush and that he rushed to give support to the U.S. war above anything else.

Koizumi can't see changing situation

The prime minister insists that the United States is playing an important role that contributes to regional peace and stability.

Far from it, the United States has made clear that it does not hesitate to use military force to defend its national interests and that it will maintain a U.S. military presence with 100,000 U.S. troops stationed in Asia.

After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the Pentagon published a "Quadrennial Defense Review" which defines "forcible entry" as a main pillar of U.S. strategy without regard for target nations' opinions.

Clearly, this is incompatible with the movement toward peace now increasing in Asia.

All East Asian countries take part in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) to develop discussions on regional security, thus giving power to the international cause of peace and progress, in particular the quest for non-alignment, rejection of nuclear weapons, and the peaceful settlement of international disputes.

Note that no one at the ASEAN meeting of foreign ministers in July 2001 publicly expressed support for the U.S. Bush administration's missile defense scheme, and some countries went so far as to criticize it.

The Japanese government should know how far removed Japan is from Asia's reality when it emphasizes the importance of its military alliance with the United States.

Prime Minister Koizumi's anachronistic notion is identical with the fact that the Japanese government has shown no remorse for its war of aggression in relation to the history textbook issue and his controversial Yasukuni Shrine visit.

We know that in those ASEAN countries, Prime Minister Koizumi met with grassroots protests against his historical outlook. In his speeches, the prime minister was silent about the past war of aggression and instead emphasized that Japan's Self-Defense Forces were sent abroad, which he touted as a major achievement.

Although no one at the government level raised those questions with the Japanese prime minister, apparently from diplomatic considerations, what he stated has insulted the feelings of the people of ASEAN countries who suffered from the aggression and colonial rule by the Japanese army.

The Japanese government is unable to understand the changes now taking place in Asia, because it's uncritically devoted to cooperation with the U.S. war and military buildup without any policy for peaceful foreign relations.

In fact, the ASEAN summit last November announced its commitment to "counter, prevent and suppress all forms of terrorist acts in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other international law." At the summit Prime Minister Koizumi's call for support for the U.S. retaliatory war did not get a positive reaction from any other government leaders. Media reports at the time described this as a "fruitless speech." Leaders of Malaysia and Indonesia severely criticized the U.S.-led air strikes against Afghanistan.

Change of foreign policy is imperative

"Japan without a foreign policy" may be the phrase to depict the present situation. This sheds more light on the Japanese Communist Party proposal calling for changes in Japan's foreign policy in line with the following four points: (1) give priority to settling disputes through talks, not by military means; (2) end favoritism toward the United States in foreign relations, and make Asia the centerpiece of Japan's foreign relations; (3) establish an independent foreign policy of not following big powers; and (4) express self-criticism of the past war of aggression and colonial rule as the basis for Japan's future relations with Asia.

The JCP proposal corresponds with the peace current in Asia.

For Japan to develop relations of peace and friendship with Asian countries, such a change as this in foreign policy is indispensable. (end)