Friday, May 30, 2008In August 1977 then Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda in Manila gave a speech on Japan's Asia diplomacy. Under what was later called the Fukuda doctrine, Japan promised to refrain from becoming a military power, to pursue "heart-to-heart" relationships of mutual trust in various fields, to seek solidarity with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) on the basis of equal partnership, and to pursue mutual understanding with the Indochinese countries.
Last week, his son, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, gave a similar speech at a Tokyo symposium on Asia's future. Will this speech serve as principles to guide Japan's policy toward Asia for the next 30 years, as Mr. Fukuda no doubt hopes?
The speech, which might be called a new Fukuda doctrine, reflects efforts to give substance to his foreign-policy goal of making the push for Asia diplomacy resonate with the reinforcement of the Japan-U.S. alliance. This will help restore balance to Japan's diplomacy. This means a departure from former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's lopsided emphasis on ties with the United States, as well as from former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's attempt to encircle China through closer ties with the U.S., Australia and India while minimizing friction with it.
Given Japan's geographical location and modern history characterized by its 20th-century war in the Asia-Pacific region, Mr. Fukuda's approach is reasonable. He needs to exert the kind of leadership that follows up with concrete action.
In his speech entitled "Toward the Day When the Pacific Ocean Becomes an Inland Sea," Mr. Fukuda said the doctrine declared by his father is still alive because Japan and other Asian countries cannot leave behind the principle of sharing good things and coping with problems together as "colleagues." He stressed the importance of people in the Asia-Pacific region building relations of mutual trust and "walking together."
Mr. Fukuda envisions the Pacific Ocean as an inland sea 30 years from now, with increased exchanges of people, goods, capital and knowledge, and the world's leading economies concentrated in the region. He noted that the countries in the region now account for about 60 percent of the world's gross domestic product and about 40 percent of world trade.
Pointing out that the key word is "openness," Mr. Fukuda correctly noted that Japan's starting point should be the "open diversity" of its society. Attaining this is easier said than done, as it requires that Japan review its policies ranging from education to immigration control. He admitted that Japan lags behind in the social advancement of women, acceptance of direct investment, and the utilization of talented people from other Asian countries. His humble attitude deserves praise.
Mr. Fukuda mentioned five promises of concrete action. Japan will support ASEAN's effort to create a single integrated market by 2015. He said the creation of such a market demands the eradication of gaps within the ASEAN region and the development of the Mekong River region. His call for dedicating the next 30 years to eradicating these gaps is likely to receive support from the countries concerned.
Mr. Fukuda also said Japan will strengthen its alliance with the U.S. as a public asset to ensure stability in the Asia-Pacific region. But there is the danger that strengthening ties with the U.S. in an accelerated manner could be taken by other Asian countries as an effort by the two countries to dominate the Asia-Pacific region.
To prevent such a perception, Japan will need to maintain close communication with other countries as it deepens its relations with the U.S. Only when such communication is adequate will the Japan-U.S. alliance be able to serve as the cornerstone for prosperity in the region as Mr. Fukuda hopes.
Other promises include Japan's becoming a "peace cooperation state" whose work will include cooperating with other partners to ensure the Strait of Malacca is free of pirates. It will push exchanges of young people and cooperation between universities in the region. And it will make efforts to battle the effects and causes of global warming.
Mr. Fukuda proposed that emergency relief organizations and public health organizations in Japan and other Asian countries form a network for prompt cooperation in the event of either a major natural disaster or an outbreak of bird flu or a new type of flu. He noted that the fight against climate change cannot be carried out by Japan alone and urged other countries in the region to cooperate.
Mr. Fukuda avoided such issues as China's Tibet problem and the military rule in Myanmar. But his new doctrine will help orient Japan's diplomacy. Yet, implementing it is another matter. Some ideas put forth by him, such as the antidisaster and antiflu network especially, deserve prompt action.
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