Abe’s Asia tour causes discord

Akahata editorial

   Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has wound up his tour of three Asian countries, Indonesia, India, and Malaysia (August 19-25).

   He planned to use diplomacy as a lever to make up for his party’s setback in the House of Councilors election, but the undeniable fact is that this recent tour ended up displaying more contradictions between him and other Asian peoples.

   It is increasingly clear that Abe’s diplomacy cannot count on support from other Asians because its aim is to impose U.S. values on other countries instead of trying to comprehend how enthusiastic the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is about establishing a regional community of peace by and for Asians.

Diplomacy imposing particular values on other countries

   Abe put emphasis on selling “freedom and democracy” and other “basic values” that the United States is advocating as the basis of its global policy, including the Iraq War.

  In his speech in Indonesia concerning Japan’s ASEAN policy, Abe went so far as to say that he was “encouraged” when he heard various ASEAN leaders talking about “democratic values” and “rule of law.” In his statement before India’s parliament, Abe emphasized the importance of linking Japan-India partnership with “fundamental values.”

   Imposing particular values on ASEAN shows that Abe understands nothing about ASEAN, which is an association of nations based on an agreement that they will cooperate peacefully irrespective of differences in their socio-economic systems. Its member states are composed of various capitalist countries, including Islamic countries, and a country on the path toward socialism. This provides the dynamics of peaceful development in Asia.

   However, imposing specific “values” on ASEAN countries will mean drawing a line between them and countries that have disagreements with their values. It will undermine the historical efforts that ASEAN has made to build up friendship and cooperation regardless of differences in socio-economic systems. He should realize that his conduct of imposing his “fundamental values” infringes on ASEAN’s efforts to respect differing values.

   Abe stated at India’s parliament that with Japan and India coming together in this way, this “broader Asia” will evolve into an immense network involving the United States, Japan, and Australia. This is a grave declaration. His call for Japan-India cooperation to be transformed was very serious because it contains a scheme to establish a U.S.-oriented new security setup in Asia, following the case of Japan and Australia shifting toward an actual military alliance without a treaty. The “broader Asia” concept, if realized, will go against ASEAN’s policy of establishing an East Asian community for Asian interests.

   We cannot overlook the fact that Abe showed great-power ambition on the tour in Indonesia by stating, “We hope that Indonesia and ASEAN will join the people of Japan in taking up the challenges that Asia and the globe will be facing in the years to come.” This is tantamount to saying, “Follow my lead.”

   Abe referred to his ASEAN policy as, “Japan and One ASEAN that Care and Share at the Heart of Dynamic Asia.” If he really believes that “care and share” is essential, he should publicly accept Japan’s historical responsibility for Japan’s past wars of aggression against Asia and history of colonization, and officially apologize to the victims and compensate them.

   Trying to give an impression as if Japan had no responsibility in the war of aggression, Abe (in India) cited Justice Radhabinod Pal, the only judge at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (Tokyo Trial) who stated the opinion that all the defendants, including former P.M. Tojo Hideki, were not guilty. For Abe who talks about “Care and Share” without making any reflection and apologies, it’s impossible to gain sympathy from the rest of Asia.

As a member of Asia

   The Abe Cabinet must be reminded of the fact that the Meiji government, because it had looked down upon the other Asian nations and followed the “leave Asia, enter Europe” policy based on territorial expansionism and colonialism, later caused a series of wars of aggression. The need is now for Japan to stop acting on behalf of the United States in Asia, and pursue an independent diplomacy as one of the Asian nations, by enforcing the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution.                    - Akahata, August 27, 2007