Japan, U.S. start talks on deepening alliance

Feb 1 08:17 PM US/Eastern

TOKYO, Feb. 2 (AP) - (Kyodo) — Japan and the United States on Tuesday entered into discussions aimed at deepening their bilateral alliance as senior foreign and defense officials from both countries gathered in Tokyo for a meeting on security affairs.

The two countries hope to reach an agreement in November, but the issue of where to move a U.S. Marine base in Okinawa is casting a shadow over the process, which is taking place as the current bilateral security treaty marks its 50th anniversary this year.

The Japanese participants in the Security Subcommittee meeting are Kazuyoshi Umemoto, director general of the Foreign Ministry's North American Affairs Bureau, and Nobushige Takamizawa, director general of the Defense Ministry's Defense Policy Bureau.

Representing the United States are Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, and Wallace Gregson, assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs.

The meeting comes after a mayoral election in Okinawa increased pressure on the Japanese government to find an alternative to an existing plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Ginowan to the city of Nago, also in Okinawa. A challenger opposing the plan won the Nago mayoral election in late January.

During the meeting, the officials are expected to discuss ways of cooperating to create a deeper alliance, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said Monday that the two countries should first develop "a common awareness" of the security environment in the Asia-Pacific region.

As part of the process to review the alliance, the two countries have agreed to hold the so-called "two-plus-two" meeting of the four foreign and defense ministers in the first half of this year.

They also hope to come up with a final conclusion concerning the process by November when U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to visit Japan for an annual Pacific Rim summit.

The existing plan to relocate the Futemma facility from a densely crowded residential area was agreed between Japan and the United States in 2006 as part of a broader agreement on the realignment of the U.S. forces in Japan. It is also linked to the transfer of about 8,000 Marines from Okinawa to Guam by 2014.

Perspectives :: History lesson: Foreign policy can revive Japan's domestic crises

January 2, 2010

The public's expectations that the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) could revive Japan brought about a transfer of power last year. It was a fact that the economy remained sluggish, there were various social problems and the social security and medical programs were beginning to crumble prior to the August general election. Rural areas in particular had been hit hard by the economic downturn. Moreover, Japan's influence in the international community had declined considerably.

Under these circumstances, it is natural that the administration of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama declared that it would carry out the Heisei-Era Reform.

There is a glimmer of hope in the prospects for people's livelihood and the social security system. However, there appears to be a long way to go before Japan puts the economy on a recovery track. The fiscal 2010 budget draft has raised questions about how the government will secure financial resources for its policy measures. The Hatoyama administration's poor handling of Japan's relations with the United States, the core of Japan's diplomatic policy, has caused friction between the two countries. The government has failed to show a clear national strategy, due to his preoccupation with a political funding scandal in which two of his aides have been indicted.

During the half-century up to the 710 relocation of Japan's capital to Nara, Japan overcame serious crisis and successfully revived the nation, as was the case with the transition from the Tokugawa Shogunate to the Meiji Era. The relocation of the capital to Nara symbolized Japan's achievement of nation-building, defense build-up and creation of new culture as a comprehensive strategy.

At the time, East Asia was torn by war. Emperor Tenchi, popularly known as Nakano Oe-no Oji, and other Japanese leaders, who carried out the Taika Reforms in 645, deployed tens of thousands of troops to the Korean Peninsula to support Paekche, one of the countries on the peninsula, only to be defeated by coalition forces of Tang and Silla. One history book says 400 warships burst into flames, turning the sea red. Following its defeat, Japan feared that Tang and Silla would attack Japan.

Japan stationed soldiers in the Chikushi district of Fukuoka and on Iki Island north of Saga Prefecture to guard Japan from a possible attack by these countries. At the same time, Japan reformed its political system into a constitutional form of government modeled after that of China. Members of royal families and intellectuals, who had defected to Japan from Paekche and Goguryeo after these countries fell, also played an important role in the reform.

Japan is believed to have been most open to the world during the Nara Period. Numerous Buddhist priests visited Japan from various countries at the time. An Indian priest brought the soul into the statue of Great Buddha and Chinese and Vietnamese priests played an important role in a ceremony held at Todaiji Temple in Nara in 752, which was attended by about 10,000 priests. As Japan had exchanges with Silla and Bo Hai in China, Nara was the hub for exchanges between Asian and Western cultures.

The Heijo-kyo Palace in Nara had an ability to dispatch influential messages to the world, but how about in the 21st century? The transfer of power as a result of the DPJ's landslide victory in the Aug. 30 general election did send a strong message to the world. Speeches Prime Minister Hatoyama delivered at a U.N. meeting about Japan's efforts to prevent global warming and achieve nuclear disarmament shortly after he took office draw extraordinary attention from the world for Japan's head of the government. The question is whether his government has an ability to put these words into deeds. These messages can convince the international community only if Japan strengthens the foundations for such efforts and takes concrete actions to achieve these goals.

Considering Japan's current situation, it is natural that the government tends to be inward-looking. There are numerous urgent tasks to be addressed. At the same time, however, Japan is required to proactively work on global issues to fulfill its role as a developed country in the age of globalization. Even though the economy remains sluggish, Japan has potential power. The country is expected by the world to play an important role not only on environmental policy, but a wide diversity of issues.

If Japan improves its ability to send influential messages to the international community and draws attention from the world, it will vitalize Japan. It will also attract excellent human resources to Japan. The government is required to have such a long-term strategy to revive Japan. Tokyo should try to change the situation in which the number of foreign students studying in Japan and that of Japanese students studying abroad has leveled off.

To improve its ability to send influential messages to the international community, the government must deepen the Japan-U.S. alliance, which is the core of Japan's diplomatic policy. Japan must restore mutual trust between the two countries that has been shaken by the stalled relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture. It is also important for Japan to step up its cooperation with emerging countries such as China and India and its neighbor South Korea as well as other Asian countries. Japan needs to work closely with many of its allies to address global issues.

Another important point is the necessity to share Japanese culture to the world. Japanese leaders during the Nara Period, who introduced advanced civilization, also nurtured new culture. Manyo-shu, the oldest anthology of tanka poems, contains poems composed by Emperors and other members of the Imperial Family as well as soldiers and ordinary citizens, and is still read by numerous people. Japanese people in that period made hiragana and katakana Japanese characters from kanji characters introduced from China.

Japan has abundant traditional culture, and has an environment in which new culture can be created through resonance between the traditional culture and modern culture. New styles of poems are now being created in the world of traditional waka poems, which date back to the Manyo-shu era. Novelist Haruki Murakami's works have been popular with people all over the world, and Japanese films, anime and food are enjoying high reputation on a global scale. Such a wide diversity of culture is Japan's important resources.

Efforts to improve Japan's ability to send influential messages to the international community will lead to the revival of Japan.

(Mainichi Japan) January 2, 2010

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Hatoyama apologizes for donation scandal in New Year message

January 1, 2010

In a rare move, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama apologized for a political donation scandal, in which two of his aides have been indicted, in his New Year's message released on Friday.

"I hope you are all well and haven't caught a cold in the cold weather. To the young people preparing hard for entrance exams, do mind your health and make sure you produce the best possible results," his message begins. "My government's 'honeymoon period' is over now, and we can no longer ask people to judge us with a warmly forgiving eye. My hope is that we can consider the issues and engage in struggle together with you, in the process of receiving your pointed criticisms."

Regarding the donation scandal, he says, "Allow me once again to apologize sincerely for this."

In response to accusations that he lacks leadership ability, Hatoyama wrote: "I am aware that there is a range of opinions among certain quarters on the Cabinet's leadership. I seek the public's understanding on the fact that there was a change of government and the policy decision-making process and the philosophy underlying it have changed considerably."

(Mainichi Japan) January 1, 2010

Perspectives :: DPJ needs reminder that first concern is policy, not power

January 1, 2010
Selected Columns

The public appears to have been under the impression that Japan will be better off with a change of prime minister.

Three consecutive prime ministers stepped down after serving for only one year during the last phase of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)-led government, proving that such an impression is an illusion: one that served only to rob the LDP of support and confuse the rest of the country.

Voters selected the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) as a "promising star" to resolve the confusion and revive Japan. Four months later, the public appears to be under the same illusion.

Newspapers are required to point out acts of governmental misrule, problems and scandals and demand that such practices be rectified. However, even if there are numerous problems involving the administration, it does not immediately mean that the prime minister should be replaced.

There is no "superman," and there is no need for such a figure. The tendency to seek one could put the nation on a dangerous road, and lead the public to abandon their responsibility as sovereign members of the country. In a democratic state, voters must bring up a leader who can grow side-by-side with the public, even if he or she occasionally meets an obstacle and makes mistakes. To ensure that, the government should disclose information and make decision-making processes transparent, as was symbolized by the government's efforts to identify wasteful projects. Japan is a country where we live, and the prime minister reflects our will.

Instead of enjoying the fruits of policy measures that are implemented behind closed doors, voters should participate in the decision-making process, struggle together with their leader, repeat trials and errors and pursue better solutions based on consensus. This is a democratic decision-making process.

It is impossible to completely solve any problem facing Japan now. People want U.S. bases in Japan be removed -- but if they were closed, it would raise serious problems involving Japan's security. Nobody wants to pay taxes or pension and health insurance premiums -- but everybody wants social security services. While hoping that the government will increase its spending to improve the economic conditions, taxpayers demand that the government decrease its budget deficit. The public insists that the government take measures to drastically decrease carbon dioxide emissions while maintaining their current living standards. People want to enjoy a wide variety of food from all over the world even though they urge the administration to increase Japan's food self-sufficiency ratio.

The prime minister is required to answer whether the government can comply with these demands. However, nobody can become an excellent leader in a day. Yukio Hatoyama is serving as prime minister for the first time.

Voters gave the DPJ an overwhelming majority in the powerful House of Representatives in the Aug. 30 general election, but not because they wanted to see the party desperately cling to power. They wanted to see fresh members of the government address various challenges. Therefore, members of the Hatoyama administration should be confident and freely work on policy issues. Positive approach adopted by the administration will have positive effects on the economy. If it fails to achieve its goals, the ruling party will only lose the next election.

Japan does not exist for the sake of the DPJ. Instead, the DPJ is a party that should serve Japan. (By Tetsuro Kikuchi, Executive Editor)

(Mainichi Japan) January 1, 2010