asia

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Diplomatic report shows no improvement in Japan's Asia diplomacy
Akahata editorial (excerpts)

The Foreign Ministry's annual Diplomatic Bluebook 2006 published in April showed no willingness to improve its diplomatic relations with other Asian countries, despite growing calls for Japan to substantially change its policy, particularly in its relations with China and South Korea.

The Koizumi government maintains that the Japan-U.S. alliance is the key element of Japan's diplomacy. As long as Japan holds on to this position, it will not be able to have any prospects for improving its Asia diplomacy.

Why is Japan's Asia diplomacy isolated? It is because the Koizumi government refuses to stop glorifying Japan's war of aggression in WWII, as made clear by Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro's insistence on visiting Yasukuni Shrine.

Kuriyama Shoichi, former ambassador to the U.S., in the January issue of the "Diplomatic Forum" urged Prime Minister Koizumi to refrain from visiting Yasukuni Shrine to avoid giving the impression that he shares the historical view glorifying the "Greater East Asia War."

Referring to China's request that Japan stop glorifying its past war of aggression, the Bluebook stated, "The government believes that differences over specific diplomatic issues must not be an obstacle to the general development of Japan-China relations."

As long as the Japanese government reduces the question of historical view into one of many diplomatic issues, its expression of remorse for the war of aggression will never be taken seriously.

In Asia or elsewhere in the world, postwar international relations have been established based on reflection on the Japanese and German wars of aggression. How outrageous it is for the "Diplomatic Bluebook" to undermine the very foundation of international relations!

Only by ending the prime minister's Yasukuni Shrine visits and making a thorough reflection on the war of aggression can Japan mend its diplomatic relations.

It is also serious that the Bluebook overemphasized military affairs.

The Bluebook, which used to warn of the "North Korean threat," began to state that modernization of China's military forces and its growing defense budget lack transparency. The annual diplomatic report has thus directly employed the description of the December 2004 National Defense Program Outline that called China and North Korea potential enemies.

If the Japanese government, that glorifies the war of aggression and supports fully the realignment of the Japan-U.S. military alliance, adopts a diplomatic policy hostile to these neighboring countries, it will only increase military tension in Asia.

Using its peace Constitution, Japan must play its part to accelerate the movement for peace in East Asia.
- Akahata, May 10, 2006