Chapter 2 · In April the Takarazuka Revue theater company gave its firstperformance in Taiwan, and...
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Japan’s Foreign Policy that Takes a Panoramic Perspective of the World Map Chapter 2 11 Chapter 2 Japan’s Foreign Policy that Takes a Panoramic Perspective of the World Map 1. Asia and Oceania General Overview The stature and importance of the Asia–Oceania region has risen significantly in recent years. It is home to many of the emerging countries, boasts a high rate of economic growth, and is blessed with an abundance of human resources. The Asia–Oceania region is a world growth center and has been enhancing its presence in the global economy. Of the world’s population of 7 billion, approximately 3.4 billion live in East Asia Summit (EAS) member states 2 (excluding the U.S. and Russia). This represents 48.3% 3 of the world’s population. The combined nominal GDP of ASEAN member states, China and India grew 370% 4 over the last 10 years, as compared with the world average of 110%. Total exports and imports of EAS member states (excluding the U.S. and Russia) is US$10.5 trillion, making it the second largest market behind the EU (US$11.3 trillion). Of these exports and imports, 43.3% 5 are intra-regional, illustrating the close economic ties between these nations and their high degree of economic interdependence. In recent years, Japanese-led foreign investment has enabled development of closely integrated supply chains that extend across the entire region. As the middle class expands, overall purchasing power is expected to rise sharply. This will support strong economic growth within the region, and the huge demand for infrastructure and massive purchasing power of this large middle class will also help to bring renewed affluence and vitality to Japan. Realizing affluence and stability throughout Asia and Oceania is indispensable for Japan’s peace and prosperity. In contrast to the favorable economic growth climate, the security environment surrounding Japan within the Asia–Oceania region is becoming increasingly severe. North Korea continues its nuclear and missile development and engages in provocation; countries in the region are modernizing their military forces in a manner that lacks transparency, and are trying to change the status quo through the use of force or coercion; and tensions within the region are growing over maritime issues, including issues in the South China Sea. Other factors hindering the stable growth of the region include immature financial markets, environmental pollution, limited supplies of food and energy, and aging populations. Japan–U.S. Alliance As the security environment in the Asia–Pacific region becomes increasingly severe, the Japan–U.S. Alliance as the linchpin of Japan’s diplomacy has become more important than ever. Against this background, Japan therefore welcomes the continued implementation of the United States’ rebalancing toward the Asia– Pacific, as this contributes greatly to the stability and prosperity of the region. Japan continues to closely cooperate with the United States in a wide range of areas including security and economy, in order to maintain the rule of law in this region, not the rule by force. China In recent years, China has achieved rapid economic development while facing a variety of social and economic challenges, and has significantly enhanced 2 ASEAN (member states: Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, Viet Nam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos), Japan, China, the ROK, India, Australia, and New Zealand. 3 World Bank (WB) World Development Indicators. 4 WB World Development Indicators 5 International Monetary Fund (IMF) Direction of Trade Statistics May 2012
Transcript of Chapter 2 · In April the Takarazuka Revue theater company gave its firstperformance in Taiwan, and...
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Chapter 2
Japan’s Foreign Policy that Takes a Panoramic Perspective of the World Map
1. Asia and OceaniaGeneral Overview ThestatureandimportanceoftheAsia–Oceaniaregionhasrisensignificantlyinrecentyears.Itishometomanyoftheemergingcountries,boastsahighrateofeconomicgrowth,andisblessedwithanabundanceofhumanresources.TheAsia–Oceaniaregionisaworldgrowthcenterandhasbeenenhancingitspresenceintheglobaleconomy.Oftheworld’spopulationof7billion,approximately3.4billionliveinEastAsiaSummit(EAS)memberstates2(excludingtheU.S.andRussia).Thisrepresents48.3%3oftheworld’spopulation.Thecombined nominal GDP ofASEANmember states,ChinaandIndiagrew370%4overthelast10years,ascomparedwiththeworldaverageof110%.TotalexportsandimportsofEASmemberstates(excludingtheU.S.andRussia)isUS$10.5trillion,makingitthesecondlargestmarketbehindtheEU(US$11.3trillion).Oftheseexportsandimports,43.3%5areintra-regional,illustratingthecloseeconomictiesbetweenthesenationsandtheirhighdegreeofeconomicinterdependence.Inrecentyears,Japanese-ledforeigninvestmenthasenableddevelopmentofcloselyintegratedsupplychainsthatextendacrosstheentireregion.Asthemiddleclassexpands,overallpurchasingpowerisexpectedto rise sharply. This will support strong economicgrowthwithintheregion,andthehugedemandforinfrastructureandmassivepurchasingpowerofthislargemiddle class will also help to bring renewedaffluenceandvitalitytoJapan.RealizingaffluenceandstabilitythroughoutAsiaandOceaniaisindispensableforJapan’speaceandprosperity. Incontrasttothefavorableeconomicgrowthclimate,
thesecurityenvironmentsurroundingJapanwithinthe Asia–Oceania region is becoming increasinglysevere.NorthKoreacontinuesitsnuclearandmissiledevelopment and engages in provocation; countriesin the region aremodernizing theirmilitary forcesinamannerthatlackstransparency,andaretryingtochangethestatusquothroughtheuseofforceorcoercion;andtensionswithintheregionaregrowingovermaritime issues, including issues in the SouthChinaSea.Otherfactorshinderingthestablegrowthof the region include immature financial markets,environmentalpollution,limitedsuppliesoffoodandenergy,andagingpopulations.
Japan–U.S. Alliance As the security environment in theAsia–Pacificregion becomes increasingly severe, the Japan–U.S.AllianceasthelinchpinofJapan’sdiplomacyhasbecomemoreimportantthanever.Againstthisbackground,Japanthereforewelcomesthecontinuedimplementationof theUnitedStates’ rebalancing toward theAsia–Pacific,asthiscontributesgreatlytothestabilityandprosperityof the region. Japancontinues to closelycooperatewiththeUnitedStatesinawiderangeofareas including security and economy, in order tomaintaintheruleoflawinthisregion,nottherulebyforce.
China Inrecentyears,Chinahasachievedrapideconomicdevelopment while facing a variety of social andeconomicchallenges,andhassignificantlyenhanced
2 ASEAN(memberstates:Indonesia,Cambodia,Singapore,Thailand,thePhilippines,Brunei,VietNam,Malaysia,Myanmar,Laos),Japan,China,theROK,India,Australia,andNewZealand.
3 WorldBank(WB)WorldDevelopmentIndicators.4 WBWorldDevelopmentIndicators5 InternationalMonetaryFund(IMF)DirectionofTradeStatisticsMay2012
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its presencewithin the international community invarious fields. The entire international community,includingJapan,welcomesthedevelopmentofChinaasaresponsible,peace-lovingnation.However,China’smovestostrengthenitsmilitarycapabilitieswithoutsufficient transparency, and its increased maritimeactivities are causing concern in the entire region.JapanandChinaareneighborsseparatedbytheEastChinaSea,andhavecultivatedaverycloserelationship,withmutuallyinterdependenteconomiesandfrequentpeople-to-peopleandculturalexchanges.Atthesametimethereareanumberofpoliticalandsocialdifferencesbetweenthetwocountries,andpreciselybecauseoftheir close relationship it is inevitable that frictionsandconfrontationsshouldsometimesoccur. WithregardtotheSenkakuIslands,theseislandsareclearlyaninherentpartoftheterritoryofJapan,inlightofhistoricalfactsandbaseduponinternationallaw.Indeed,theyareunderthevalidcontrolofJapan.There exists no issue of territorial sovereignty tobe resolved concerning the Senkaku Islands. Japanconducted a series of field surveys of the SenkakuIslandsbeginningin1885,andafterascertainingthattherewasno traceof theirhavingbeenunder thecontrolofanotherstateincludingtheQingDynastyofChina,theSenkakuIslandswereformallyincorporatedintotheterritoryofJapaninJanuary1895.Later,withthepermissionfromtheJapaneseGovernment,privateenterpriseswereestablishedontheislands,engagingin activities suchas theprocessing ofdriedbonito,and the islands countedmore than 200 inhabitantsatonepoint.AfterWorldWarII,theSanFranciscoPeaceTreatyplacedtheSenkakuIslandsundertheadministrationoftheU.S.asapartofOkinawa.In1895,whenJapanacquiredsovereigntyovertheSenkakuIslandsbylawfulmeansundertheinternationallegalframeworkwhichexistedatthattime,anduntilthe1970s,afterthepotentialexistenceofoilreservesintheEastChinaSeawasreported,Chinamadenoobjectionswhatsoever regarding Japan’s sovereigntyover theSenkakus.Moreover,Chinahasofferednoexplanationastowhyitfailedtoraiseanysuchobjectionsduringthisperiod. SinceSeptember2012,withtheexceptionofperiodsofsevereweather,Chinahassentgovernment-ownedvessels aroundSenkaku Islands on an almost dailybasis.FromJanuarythroughDecember2013China’sgovernment-owned vessels intruded into Japaneseterritorialwaters 52 times (involving a total of 180vessels),andononeoccasioninAugustremainedinJapaneseterritorialwatersforover28hours,China’slongestintrusiontodate.
Japanisfirmlyresolvedtodefenditsterritorialland,seaandairspace,andcontinues,throughdiplomaticchannels,tolodgestrongprotestsandtodemandthewithdrawal of Chinese vessels from these waters.Giventhissituation, inordertopreventunforeseencontingenciesJapanhasproposedtheearlydeploymentofaMaritimeCommunicationMechanism,involvingthedefenseauthoritiesofbothcountries,butasofyetChinahasnotacceptedthisproposal.Further,onNovember23, theMinistryofNationalDefenseofthePeople’sRepublicofChinaannouncedthatithadestablishedthe“EastChinaSeaAirDefenseIdentificationZone.”TheannouncementunilaterallyobligesaircraftflyingininternationalairspacetoabidebyChinesedomesticprocedures, and refers to “defensive emergencymeasures”thatwouldbetakenincasesuchaircraftdonotfollowthoseprocedures.Theannouncedmeasuresundulyinfringethefreedomofflightininternationalairspace,whichisthegeneralprincipleofinternationallaw.Inaddition,theso-called“zone”establishedbytheChineseMinistryofNationalDefensemakesitappearasiftheairspaceovertheSenkakuIslands,whichisaninherentpartoftheterritoryofJapan,wereapartofChina’s“territorialairspace.”Sucharepresentationiscompletelyunacceptable.TheGovernmentofJapanhasexpresseditsconcernsabouttheseissuesbyissuingastatementbytheMinisterforForeignAffairs,andimmediatelymadestrongproteststoChina,demandingthatChinarevokeallmeasuresinterferingwiththefreedomofflightininternationalairspace.Japanwillcontinue to deal firmlybut in a calmmannerwithChina’sattemptstounilaterallyalterthestatusquobycoercivemeasures,andwillurgeChinanottoallowthesituationtoescalate. In spite of these difficulties, Japan’s relationshipwithChinarepresentsoneofJapan’smostimportantbilateral relationships. Although after the transferofownershipofthreeoftheSenkakuIslandstotheGovernmentofJapanSeptember2012,tensionsbetweenJapanandChinaaffectedeconomicrelationsinvariousways,relationsintheeconomicfieldandthenumberofChinesevisitorstoJapanbegantorecoverduringthesecondhalfof2013.Intermsofpeople-to-peopleexchanges as well, Japan has been endeavoring tobuildandstrengthenawiderangeofrelationshipsbyinvitingChinese fromvarious strata of society andfieldstovisitJapan.Bothcountriesshareresponsibilityfor thepeaceandstabilityof theregionandof theinternationalcommunity.JapanbelievesthatitisintheinterestsofbothJapanandChina,aswellastheinternationalcommunity,forbothcountriestoadoptabroadperspective,andimprovetheirrelationsby
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reaffirmingthebasicprinciplesofa“MutuallyBeneficialRelationshipBasedonCommonStrategicInterests.”OnJapan’sside,thedoortodialogueisalwaysopen.Ratherthantakingtheattitudeofrefusingtoengageindialogueuntilafterallissuesareresolved,Japan’spositionisthatitispreciselybecausechallengingissuesexistbetweenthetwocountriesthatfrankdiscussionsshouldbeheld.
Taiwan Taiwan is an important partner and has closeeconomictieswithJapan.InApril2013along-pendingJapan–Taiwan Fisheries Arrangement was signed,reinforcing the framework for cooperationbetweenJapanandTaiwan.People-to-peopleexchangesbetweenJapanandTaiwanareveryvigorous,andthenumberof short-term visitors traveling between Japan andTaiwansetanewrecordin2013.Culturalexchangesarealsoveryactive.InApriltheTakarazukaRevuetheatercompanygaveitsfirstperformanceinTaiwan,andachievedgreatsuccess.In2014aspecialexhibitionfrom Taiwan’s Palace Museum is scheduled to beheldinJapan.Inlinewiththe1972Japan–ChinaJointCommunique, the relationship between Japan andTaiwan ismaintained throughworking relations atthenon-governmentallevel,withemphasisonpromotionofworkingcooperationtoachieveclosereconomicties.
Mongolia Mongolia is an important partner to Japan, andthetwocountriessharefundamentalvaluessuchasfreedom,democracyandamarketeconomy.Resultsachievedbytwosummitmeetingsin2013helpedraisethe“StrategicPartnership”betweenthetwocountriestoanewlevel.JapanwillcontinuetostrivetostrengthenitsmutuallybeneficialandcomplementaryrelationswithMongolia.
Republic of Korea TheRepublicofKorea(ROK)andJapanarethemostimportantneighboringcountriestoeachother,whichsharefundamentalvaluessuchasfreedom,democracy,andrespectforbasichumanrights.Thetwocountriesalsosharecommoninterestsinmaintainingregionalpeace and security. President Park Guen-hye tookoffice in February 2013, and the new governmentsof Japanand theROK, awareof the importanceofcooperationtowardsthe50thanniversary,in2015,ofthenormalizationofrelationsbetweenthetwocountries,havedeepenedcommunicationatvariouslevelswiththeaimofimprovingtheirrelations.Inrecentyears,thepeopleofJapanandtheROKhavesteadilydeepenedand
expandedtheirmutualunderstandingandinteraction,whileeconomicrelationsremainveryclose.Despitethefactthatthetwocountriesfacedifficultissues,inlightofthecurrentsituationintheEastAsia,Japanwillcontinuetomakesteadyeffortstowardbuildingfuture-orientedandmulti-layered relationswith theROK ineveryfield, includingpolitics,economyandculturefromabroaderperspective. JapanandtheROKhaveanissueconcerningthesovereigntyoverTakeshima.TheGovernmentofJapanmaintainsaconsistentpositionthatTakeshimaisclearlyaninherentterritoryofJapan,inlightofhistoricalfactsandbaseduponinternationallaw.Japanwillcontinuetomakeeffortstosettlethisterritorialdispute inapeacefulmannerbasedoninternationallaw. Asregards the issueof “comfortwomen,” Japanhasmadesincereeffortstoaddressthisissue.Japan’sposition is that the issues of property and claimsbetween the two countries, including the “comfortwomen” issue, have already been settled legally.However, in order to offer practical assistance toformer“comfortwomen,”JapanesenationalsandtheJapanesegovernmentestablishedtheAsianWomen’sFund,whichprovidedfundsforvariousmedicalandwelfaresupportprojectsand“atonementmoney.”Inaddition,then-PrimeMinistersofJapansentaletterexpressingapologiesandremorsedirectlytoeachoftheformer“comfortwomen.”Japanwillcontinuetoexert itsutmosteffort togainunderstandingon itspositionandtheearnestandsincereeffortsithasmade. Withregardtoproblemsarisingfromthejuridicaldecisions in the ROK concerning the “Requisitionof civilians” from the Korean peninsula, Japan hasconsistently taken the position that the issues ofproperty and claims between Japan and the ROKhavebeensettledcompletelyandfinallythroughtheAgreementontheSettlementofProblemconcerningPropertyandClaimsandonEconomicCo-operationBetweenJapanandtheRepublicofKorea,andwillcontinuetodealappropriatelywiththeissuesonthatbasis.
North Korea NorthKoreacontinuesitseffortstoconsolidatetheregimecenteredonKimJong-Un,theFirstChairmanof theNationalDefenseCommission (NDC).Duringthepastyear,thereweresomemovesinthisregardssuchasthepurgeofJangSung-Taek,ViceChairmanoftheNDC,inDecember2013.Followingthetwomissilelaunchesconductedin2012,NorthKoreacarriedoutanucleartestinFebruary2013inviolationofUnitedNations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. North
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Korea’s nuclear and missile development remain aseriousthreat,notonlytotheregionbutalsototheentireinternationalcommunity.JapanwillcontinuetocloselycoordinatewithcountriesconcernedincludingtheU.S.,theROK,ChinaandRussiainurgingNorthKorea to refrain fromany furtherprovocation, andtotakeconcreteactionstowarddenuclearizationandothergoals in compliancewith theSix-PartyTalksJointStatementandtherelevantUNSCresolutions.TheGovernmentofJapan,underitspolicyof“dialogueandpressure”andinaccordancewiththeJapan–DPRKPyongyangDeclaration,willcontinuetoworkinclosecoordinationwithothercountriesconcernedtowardthecomprehensiveresolutionoftheoutstandingissuesofconcernsuchastheabductions,aswellasnuclearandmissileissues.Withcooperationfromtheinternationalcommunity, Japanwill continue tomake itsutmosteffortstowardthecompleteresolutionoftheabductionsissuebasedonthepositionthatthenormalizationofrelationswith North Korea can never be achievedwithouttheresolutionoftheabductionsissue. InMarch2013,theUnitedNationsHumanRightsCouncilauthorizedestablishmentofaCommissionofInquiry(COI)onhumanrightsintheDPRK,andinFebruary2014thisCommissionreleaseditsfinalreport,whichcomprehensivelydetailsthegravehumanrightsviolations inNorthKorea, including the abductionsissue.BasedonthisreportJapan,incollaborationwiththeinternationalcommunity,willplayaleadingroleinurgingNorthKoreatotakeconcreteactiontoimprovethehumanrightssituationinNorthKorea.
Southeast Asian Countries HighratesofeconomicgrowtharehelpingtoboosttheimportanceandpresenceoftheSoutheastAsiancountrieswithintheAsia–Oceaniaregion.Japanhasbeenworking to strengthen relationswith each oftheASEANmemberstates,basedonalongstandinghistory of friendly relations. 2013marked the 40thYearofASEAN–JapanFriendshipandCooperation.During that year, PrimeMinister ShinzoAbe paidofficialvisitstoeachoftheASEANmemberstates,andinDecembertheASEAN–JapanCommemorativeSummitwasheldinTokyo.Inaddition,otherhigh-levelexchangesweremaintainedthroughfrequentvisitstoASEANmemberstatesbyForeignMinisterKishidaandotherCabinetmembers.ThestrategicenvironmentoftheAsia–Oceaniaregionhaschangedinrecentyears,andinordertoachievepeaceandprosperityintheregion, Japanwill continue to reinforce itsdialogueandcooperationwithSoutheastAsiancountriesinthefieldsofpoliticsandsecurity.Moreover,asagrowth
centerforthe21stcentury,theSoutheastAsiaregion,particularlyinrecentyears,isattractingattentionasadesirablepartnerforinvestmentandtrade.Againstthisbackdrop,andhopingtotakeadvantageofthevitalityofthisregiontoreinvigorateitsowneconomy,Japansupportsthedevelopmentoftheinfrastructureand investment environment in this area. Japan isalsoworkingtoreinforcepeople-to-peopleandculturalexchanges,andtookadvantageofthefactthat2013markedthe60thanniversaryoftheestablishmentofdiplomaticrelationsbetweenJapanandCambodia,the40thanniversaryoftheestablishmentofdiplomaticrelationsbetweenJapanandVietNam (Japan–VietNamFriendshipYear),andthe55thanniversaryoftheestablishmentofdiplomaticrelationsbetweenJapanandIndonesiatofurtherpromotefriendlyrelationswiththeSoutheastAsiaregion.Inaddition,youthexchangeswereorganizedthroughprogramssuchasJENESYS2.0,andtheeasingofvisarequirementsboostedthenumberoftouristsvisitingJapanfromSoutheastAsiancountries,includingThailand,Cambodia,Indonesia,Laos,Malaysia,thePhilippines,VietNamandMyanmar.
Australia and New Zealand AustraliaandNewZealandareimportantpartnersofJapanwithintheregionandsharethesamefundamentalvaluesas Japan.The twocountrieshavealsobeenworkingwith Japan to address regional andglobalissues.JapanandAustraliaenjoysteadilydeepening,mutuallycomplementaryeconomicties,particularlyin theareasof tradeand investment.Moreover,asstrategicpartnersworkingtogetherforthepeaceandstability of the international community, Japan andAustraliaaresteadilystrengtheningtheirrelationshipintermsofsecurityanddefensecooperation.JapanandNewZealandhavemaintainedfriendlyrelationsfor many years, and this connection was furtherreinforced in 2013 as the foreignministers of bothcountriesconfirmedtheelevationoftheirrelationshiptothatofa“StrategicCooperativePartnership.”
Pacific Islands Region ManyofthePacificIslandcountriesarefriendlytowardJapanandare importantpartnersofJapanin terms of cooperation within the internationalcommunityandinthesupplyoffisheriesandmineralresources.InOctober2013,thePacificIslandsLeadersMeeting(PALM)SecondMinisterialInterimMeetingwasheldinTokyoandSendai.Asummarywasissuedby the Chair, reaffirming the cooperation betweenJapanandthePacificregion,particularlyintheareasofinternationalmaritimeorder,resourcemanagement,
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andtradeandinvestment.
South Asia SouthAsiaisbecomingincreasinglyimportantinthe international arenawith its large population ofapproximately1.6billion,itsgeopoliticalimportance,andthecontinuedhighratesofeconomicgrowthenjoyedbymanycountries intheregion.Japanwill furtherstrengthentheeconomicrelationshipswithSouthAsiancountrieswithwhichittraditionallyhasfriendlyandcooperativerelations.Moreover,Japanwillcontinueits cooperation for each country’s efforts such asestablishingnationalreconciliationanddemocratization.JapanestablishedtheStrategicandGlobalPartnershipwithIndiain2006,andthetwocountriessharevalues
suchasdemocracyandrespectfortheruleoflaw.JapanisworkingtofurtherstrengthenitsbasicrelationshipwithIndiainawiderangeofareas,includingsecurity,economyandpeople-to-peopleexchange.InMay2013,PrimeMinisterManmohanSinghvisitedJapan,andPrimeMinisterAbevisitedIndiainJanuary2014.InPakistan,whichplaysakeyroleincounter-terrorism,ademocraticallyelectedciviliangovernmentcompletedafullterminofficeforthefirsttimeever,andachievedademocratictransitionofpowerviaelectionsheldinMay.JapanwillcontinuetoencouragePakistan’spositiveeffortandcooperatewithittopromotethepeaceandstability of the region and the entire internationalcommunity.
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress visit the Tamil Nadu Association for the Welfare of the Physically Handicapped (December 5, 2013, Chennai, India; Source: Jiji press)
Strengthening Regional Cooperation As described above, the strategic environmentsurrounding the Asia–Oceania region is changingrapidly, and it is becoming extremely importantfor Japan to cooperate and strengthen its relationswith the countries of this region.While continuingtostrengthentheJapan–U.S.Alliance,Japan’spolicywillbetoplayanactiveroleinpromotingpeaceandprosperity in theregionbyreinforcing its relationsof trust and cooperationwith its partners inAsia–Oceaniaandelsewhere.Inadditiontostrengtheningbilateralrelations,Japanwillalsomakeactiveuseoftrilateral arrangements for dialogue such as thoseamongJapan,ChinaandtheROK,Japan,theU.S.andtheROK,andJapan,theU.S.andAustralia,aswellaslargermultilateralframeworkssuchasJapan–ASEAN,ASEAN+3,6EAS,APEC,ARFandothers.Withregard
tothetrilateralcooperationamongJapan,ChinaandtheROK, althoughno summit or foreignministers’meetingswereheld,working-levelcooperationmadecontinuedprogressinvariousareassuchasthoseofenvironment,culture,disasterriskreduction,andhealth. JapanconsidersASEAN’scentralroleinpromotingregionalcooperationasextremelyimportantforstabilityandprosperityintheentireEastAsiaregion.Japanplaces great importance on its relationship withASEANinthecontextofregionalcooperation,andishelpingtopromotethe integrationofASEAN.2013markedthe40thYearofASEAN–JapanFriendshipandCooperation,andduringthatyearPrimeMinisterAbeandotherCabinetministersworkedvigorouslytopromoteASEANdiplomacy. InJanuarythefirstcountriesvisitedbyPrimeMinisterAbeandForeignMinisterKishidaaftertheformationoftheAbeCabinet
6 RegionalframeworkconsistingofASEAN,Japan,China,andtheROK.
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7 TheFivePrinciplesofJapan’sASEANDiplomacyareasfollows: （１）protectandpromotetogetherwithASEANmemberstatesuniversalvalues,suchasfreedom,democracyandbasichuman
rights; （２）ensureincooperationwithASEANmemberstatesthatthefreeandopenseas,whicharethemostvitalcommonasset,are
governedbylawandnotbyforce,andtowelcometheUnitedStates’rebalancingtotheAsia–Pacificregion; （３）furtherpromotetradeandinvestment,includingflowsofgoods,money,peopleandservices,throughvariouseconomic
partnershipnetworks,forJapan’seconomicrevitalizationandtheprosperityofbothJapanandASEANmemberstates; （４）protectandnurtureAsia’sdiverseculturalheritagesandtraditions; （５）promoteexchangesamongyoungpeople,whowillbetheleadersofthefuture,tofurtherfostermutualunderstanding.
wereASEANmemberstates,andduringhisvisittoIndonesiaPrimeMinisterAbeannouncedhis “FivePrinciplesforJapan’sASEANDiplomacy,”7andpledgedtoworktogetherwithASEANasan“equalpartner,”SincethattimePrimeMinisterAbehascontinuedtoplacegreatimportanceonASEANdiplomacy,visitingallthememberstatesofASEANandholdingtop-levelsummitswiththeleadersofeachmemberstatewithinayear.CrowningthisworkwastheASEAN–JapanCommemorativeSummitheldinTokyoonDecember13–15, atwhich the assembled leaders adopted theVisionStatementonASEAN–JapanFriendshipandCooperation, which outlined the future direction ofcooperation between Japan and ASEAN, based onfourmajorthemes:PartnersforPeaceandStability,PartnersforProsperity,PartnersforQualityofLife,andHeart-to-HeartPartners. The8thEASwasheldinOctober2013,andJapanattended it with a policy of reconfirming commonprinciplesandbasicrulesintheregion,andwiththegoalofgivingapowerfulboosttothedevelopmentoftheEASasaleaders-ledforumcapableofleadingthewaytotangiblecooperationinvariousareasincludingpoliticsandsecurity.Atthemeeting,discussionstookplace on regional and international affairs, coveringtopicssuchasmaritimesafetyandsecurity,connectivity,disastermanagement,andlow-carbongrowth,aswellas problems related toNorthKorea and theSouthChina Sea. Japan has been working cooperativelywiththerapidlygrowingMekongregionsince2008onissuessuchasnarrowingdevelopmentgapsbetweenadvancedandlatemembercountrieswithinASEAN,
andenhancingconnectivityintheMekongregion.TheFifthMekong–JapanSummitwasheldinDecember2013toconductamid-termreviewoftheTokyoStrategy2012,whichwasdrawnuptooutlinethepoliciesforJapan–Mekongcooperationfortheperiodfrom2012through2015,andtofollowupontheActionPlanforrealizationoftheTokyoStrategy2012forMekong–JapanCooperation. Inaddition,inviewoftheneedtosupportconnectivityamongtheSoutheastAsiancountriesnotonlyonland,butalsoatsea,JapanisconsultingonwaystoimproveASEANconnectivity. Furthermore,JapanwillalsoworkwiththeSouthAsianAssociationforRegionalCooperation(SAARC)tostrengthenintra-regionalconnectivityandpromotepeople-to-peopleexchange. On the occasion of his visit to Yasukuni ShrineonDecember26,2013,PrimeMinisterAbeissuedastatemententitled“Pledgeforeverlastingpeace”(seebelow),inwhichheexpressesthefollowingsentiments:“Ihaverenewedmydeterminationbeforethesoulsofthewardeadtofirmlyupholdthepledgenevertowageawaragain”;“wemustbuildanagewhichisfreefromthesufferingscausedbythedevastationofwar”;“For68yearsafterthewar,Japancreatedafreeanddemocraticcountry,andhasconsistentlywalkedthepathofpeace.Thereisnodoubtwhatsoeverthatwewillcontinuetopursuethispath.”TheGovernmentofJapanwillcontinue itseffortstohumbly,politelyandsincerelyexplainthecontentsofthatstatementtotheinternationalcommunity.
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StatementbyPrimeMinisterAbePledgeforeverlastingpeace
December26,2013
Today, Ipaidavisit toYasukuniShrineandexpressedmysincerecondolences,paidmyrespectsandprayedforthesoulsofallthosewhohadfoughtforthecountryandmadeultimatesacrifices.IalsovisitedChinreisha,aremembrancememorialtoprayforthesoulsofallthepeopleregardlessofnationalitieswholosttheirlivesinthewar,butnotenshrinedinYasukuniShrine. Whileprayingforthesoulsofthewardead,thepreciousnessofpeaceJapanenjoystodayreallycamehometome. The peace and prosperity Japan enjoys today is not created only by thosewho arelivingtoday.Thepeaceandprosperityweenjoytodayisbuiltontheprecioussacrificesofnumerouspeoplewhoperishedonthefieldwishingforthehappinessoftheirlovingwivesandchildren,andthinkingabouttheirfathersandmotherswhohadraisedthem. Today,Ihavecontemplatedonthis,andpaidmydeepestrespectsandgratitudesonmyvisit. Japanmustneverwageawaragain.Thisismyconvictionbasedonthesevereremorseforthepast.Ihaverenewedmydeterminationbeforethesoulsofthewardeadtofirmlyupholdthepledgenevertowageawaragain. Ihavealsomadeapledgethatwemustbuildanagewhichisfreefromthesufferingsbythedevastationofwar;JapanmustbeacountrywhichjoinshandswithfriendsinAsiaandfriendsaroundtheworldtorealizepeaceoftheentireworld. For68yearsafterthewar,Japancreatedafreeanddemocraticcountry,andconsistentlywalkedthepathofpeace.Thereisnodoubtwhatsoeverthatwewillcontinuetopursuethispath.Underthespiritofinternationalcooperation,Japanwilldischargeitsresponsibilitiesforthepeace,stabilityandprosperityoftheworld. Regrettably,itisarealitythatthevisittoYasukuniShrinehasbecomeapoliticalanddiplomatic issue. Some people criticize the visit to Yasukuni as paying homage to warcriminals, but the purpose ofmy visit today, on the anniversary ofmy administration’stakingoffice,istoreportbeforethesoulsofthewardeadhowmyadministrationhasworkedforoneyearandtorenewthepledgethatJapanmustneverwageawaragain. ItisnotmyintentionatalltohurtthefeelingsoftheChineseandKoreanpeople.Itismywishtorespecteachother’scharacter,protectfreedomanddemocracy,andbuildfriendshipwithChinaandKoreawith respect, asdid all thepreviousPrimeMinisterswhovisitedYasukuniShrine. Iwouldliketoaskforthekindunderstandingofallofyou.
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SpecialFeature
The 40 th Year of ASEAN–Japan Friendship and Cooperation
1. The ASEAN–Japan Commemorative Summit TheASEAN–JapanCommemorativeSummitwasheldonDecember14, 2013. It was the first time since 2003 that Tokyo hosted a high-level meeting of this grouping, which was attended by leaders fromthe10ASEANmemberstates.Because2013markedthe40thYearofASEAN–JapanFriendshipandCooperation,morethan600eventswereheldthroughouttheyearonthemesincludingpolitics,economy,culture,youthexchange,andtourism.Astheculminationoftheyearofevents,thesummitpresentedanopportunitytofurtherdeepenexchangebetweenJapanandASEAN,withavarietyofprogramsincludingagaladinnerfeaturing percussionists from Japan and ASEANmember states andJ-popartistssuchasAKB48andEXILE.PrimeMinisterShinzoAbealsoheldbilateralmeetingswitheachofthe10ASEANleaders,deepeningdiscussionsonindividualissuestostrengthenrelationswithASEAN.
2. History of the Relationship between ASEAN and Japan ThepartnershipbetweenASEANandJapanbeganin1973withtheestablishmentoftheASEAN–Japanforumonsyntheticrubber.In1977,then-PrimeMinisterTakeoFukudaheldthefirstASEAN–JapanSummitduringavisittoSoutheastAsia,layingthefoundationforthefuturedevelopmentoftheASEAN–Japanrelationshipwiththedeclarationofthe“FukudaDoctrine”outliningtheprinciplesforJapan’sdiplomacytowardASEAN.Sincethattime,despitesetbackssuchastwoeconomicandfinancialcrises,manyJapanesecompanieshaveestablishedapresenceinSoutheastAsia,andtradebuiltonstrongareasofeachsidehasexpandedconsiderably.Since2000inparticular,JapanandASEANhaveconcludedbilateraleconomicpartnershipagreements,bilateralinvestmenttreaties,andtheASEAN–JapanComprehensiveEconomicPartnership (AJCEP)agreement,andhavefurtherdeepenedtheirmutualdependencebyexpandingproductionnetworksacrosstheregion.
Prime Minster Abe speaking during the ASEAN–Japan Commemorative Summit (December 14, 2013, Tokyo; Source: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
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3. Vision Statement and the Future ASEAN–Japan Relationship AtthefirstASEAN–JapanCommemorativeSummitadecadeearlier,JapanandASEANannouncedthe“TokyoDeclarationfortheDynamicandEnduringASEAN–JapanPartnershipintheNewMillennium.”ASEANbeganbuildingacommunity,andhasplayedaleadingroleincreatingregionalforumssuchastheASEANRegionalForum,ASEANPlusThree,andtheEastAsiaSummit.ThroughthisprocesstheASEAN–Japanrelationshipbecamea“strategicpartnership,”playingacriticalroleforthestabilityandprosperityoftheentireEastAsiaregion. During this latestASEAN–JapanCommemorativeSummit, the leaders adopted the “VisionStatement onASEAN–JapanFriendshipandCooperation:SharedVision,SharedIdentity,SharedFuture,”*andissuedthe“JointStatementoftheASEAN–JapanCommemorativeSummit:Handinhand,facingregionalandglobalchallenges.”**TheleadersexpressedcontinuedsupportforASEAN’sefforttoestablishtheASEANcommunityin2015andtheintentiontodevelopASEAN–Japancooperationbeyond2015,aswellasreaffirmedthatthescopeofASEAN–Japancooperationextendsbeyondtheregiontoencompassglobalchallenges.WeexpectASEANandJapantodevelopevencloserrelationsinthefuture.
Commemorative photo of leaders attending the ASEAN–Japan Commemorative Summit (December 14, 2013, Tokyo; Source: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
*TheVisionStatementreaffirmsthatASEANandJapanwillstrengthencooperationinthefollowingfourareasofpartnership:1.PartnersforPeaceandStability(politicsandsecurity)2.PartnersforProsperity(economicsandeconomiccooperation)3.PartnersforQualityofLife(newsocio-economicissues)4.Heart-to-HeartPartners(people-to-peopleexchanges)
**TheJointStatementexpressesacommonunderstandingbetweenJapanandASEANoftheglobalandregionalchallenges,fromthestandpointof“theASEAN–Japanrelationshipintheworld.”
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Column
Japanese Aid for Philippine Typhoon Victims Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), which devastated the central PhilippinesonNovember 8, 2013,was extremely powerful, categorized as a “supertyphoon.”StormsurgesandviolentwindscausedconsiderabledamagetothenorthernpartofLeyteandsouthernareasofSamar.ThedestructionwaswidelyreportedinJapan,andformanythememoriesarestillfresh. Japanand thePhilippineshaveover theyearsbuilt a relationshipoffriendshipandcooperation,andinrecentyearsthisrelationshiphasbecomecloser,developingintoa“strategicpartnership.”Inviewofthisrelationshipandtoprovideasmuchassistanceaspossible,Japansentitslargesteverdisasterreliefteam,includingaround1,200personnelfromtheJapanSelf-DefenseForces.Wealsosentemergencysupplies,andprovidedemergencygrantaid.ThePhilippinessentsuppliesandmedical teamstoaidJapanfollowingtheGreatEastJapanEarthquake,soinasensethiswasawayforJapantorepaythatkindness. ThemedicalteamsenttotheafflictedareasaspartoftheJapanDisasterRelief(JDR)treatedapproximately3,300peoplebetweenNovember15andDecember9,mainlyinthecityofTaclobaninLeyte,oneoftheworst-hitareas.Iaccompaniedthefirstmedicalteam.Transportationroutesweredisruptedimmediatelyafterthedisaster,andwecarefullysurveyedthesecuritysituationaswemovedintothearea.Wewereoneofthefirstinternationalteamstoarrive,andalargenumberofpeople,mainlywithexternalinjuries,linedupoutsidethemedicalcenterwesetupinthetownsquare.Themedicalteambroughtx-raydevicesandothertypesofadvancedmedicalequipment,whichwereeffectiveinthefield,andinonecase,helpedfindaforeignobjectstuckinawoman’sleg.WealsosentpersonneltotheregionalhospitalinBaseyinthesouthofSamarfortheday,providingcareforlocalcitizens.Theteam’seffortswerehighlypraisedbylocalpeople,andwereceivedlettersofappreciationfromthedoctorswhohadassistedatregionalhospitalsimmediatelyafterthedisaster.OuractivitiesattractedconsiderableinterestwithinthePhilippines,andasaTagalogspeakerIwasinterviewedbylocalmediaseveraltimes.JapanwillcontinuetoprovidethePhilippineswithaidforrecoveryandrestorationoverthelongerterm.
Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Medical Team treating patients at a clinic in Tacloban
ShigehiroMatsudaSecondSoutheastAsiaDivision,SoutheastandSouthwestAsianAffairsDepartment
(DeputyHeadofFirstMedicalTeam,JapanDisasterRelief)
Manila
Basey, Samar
Tacloban, Leyte
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2. North America Japan and the United States are allies sharingfundamentalvaluesandstrategicinterests.TheJapan–U.S.AllianceisthelinchpinofJapan’sdiplomacyandsecurity,andplaysanimportantroleinmaintainingthestabilityandprosperitynotonlyoftheAsia–Pacificregionbutalsoofthewholeworld.Asthesecurityenvironment in theAsia–Pacificregionhasbecomeincreasinglysevere,theJapan–U.S.Alliancehasbecomemoreimportantthanever.JapanwelcomestheUnitedStates’rebalancingtowardtheAsia–Pacific,sincesuchpolicywillcontributetothestabilityandprosperityoftheregion.Bothcountrieswillcooperatecloselyinordertoplayaleadingroleincreatingorderintheregion. Theyear2013sawfrequentexchangesoftop-levelofficialsbetweenthetwocountries,startingwiththevisitsofPrimeMinisterShinzoAbeandMinisterforForeignAffairsFumioKishidatotheUnitedStatesinFebruaryandthevisitsofSecretaryofStateJohnKerryandSecretaryofDefenseChuckHageltoTokyotoattendthehistoricmeetingoftheJapan–U.S.SecurityConsultative Committee meeting (2+2) in October.Throughtheseandotheropportunities,theyachievedconcreteresultstostrengthenthealliance,includingprogresswithregardtotherelocationoftheFutenmaairbaseinOkinawaandJapan’sparticipationinthe
TPPnegotiations.Moreover,Japan–U.S.cooperationisnot limitedtotheAsia–Pacificregion,asthetwocountriesarestrengtheningtheircollaborationwithregard to responses to the situation in theMiddleEastandglobalissues.Furthermore,asonemeansofpromotingpeople-to-peopleexchanges,the“KakehashiProject―TheBridgeforTomorrow,”ayoungexchangeprogram,wasinitiated. JapanandCanadaarecloselycooperatingtogetheronawiderangeoffieldsincludingpolitics,economy,securityandculture,aspartnersintheAsia–Pacificregion,sharingfundamentalvaluesandasmembersoftheG8. PrimeMinisterAbevisitedCanadainSeptember2013 for a Japan–Canada SummitMeeting. At thismeetingthetwoPrimeMinistersreachedsubstantialagreementontheJapan–CanadaAcquisitionandCross-ServicingAgreementandagreedtoinitiateconsultationsrelatedtothestartofdaytimeflights inandoutofHanedaAirport.TheyalsoconfirmedtheirintentiontoreinforcecollaborationonissuesrelatedtotheArctic,andtopromotediscussionstowardJapan’simportoflow-pricedandstablesuppliesofLNGfromCanada.Furthermore,sinceApril,threeroundsofnegotiationsontheJapan–CanadaEconomicPartnershipAgreement(EPA)wereheld.
3. Latin America and the Caribbean Latin America and the Caribbean region is animportantdestinationforJapanesecompaniesseekingto expand internationally and is a key partner inbuildingabetter internationalcommunitybasedontheruleoflaw.LatinAmericaandtheCaribbeanhasacombinedGDPofUS$5.8trillion(approximately2.5timeslargerthanthatofASEAN)andanexpandingconsumermarketwithapopulationofapproximately600million.Theregionisalsoaproducerofmineralresources (including raremetals), energy and food,andisanimportantcontributortotheworldeconomyasaglobal center formanufacturingandexport inwhich a significant number of Japanese companieshave established operations.Moreover, the “rule oflaw”anddemocracy,firmlyestablishedinnearlyallthecountriesofLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean,helptheregionshowmorepresence inthe internationalcommunity.
JapanandLatinAmericaandtheCaribbeanhavetraditionallymaintainedaveryfriendlyrelationship.With over 1.78 million Japanese descendants, or“Nikkeis,” living in Latin America the human andhistorical bondsbetween Japanand the region rundeep,whileJapanhaslongmaintainedeconomictieswithLatinAmericaandtheCaribbeanasAsia’slargestinvestor.In2013thisrelationshipwasraisedtonewlevels.FromlateApriltoearlyMay,MinisterforForeignAffairsFumioKishidapaid official visits toMexico,PeruandPanama.Duringthistrip,MinisterKishida,inhisspeechentitled“EmbarkingonANewVoyagewithLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean,”describedthetwomainpillarsofJapan–LatinAmericadiplomacy:(1)establishmentofanewcooperativerelationshipforachievingmutualdevelopmentand(2)enhancementofpartnershiptowardcreatingabetterinternationalcommunity based on rules. Further, in September,
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MinisterKishidavisitedBrazilandArgentina.InBrazil,MinisterKishidaheldtalkswiththeBrazilianForeignMinister,aswellaswithparliamentariansofJapanesedescent,organizationsof“Nikkei,”andwithJapanesecompaniesoperatinginthecountry. Intermsofstrengtheningeconomicrelations,Japanhasbeenmakingeffortstocreateabetterbusinessenvironment for Japanese companies operating inthe region through establishing legal frameworkssuchasEPAsandinvestmentagreements,aswellasconsultationswithgovernmentsofpartnercountriesbasedontheseframeworks. Furthermore, Japan is promoting developmentassistancethatemploysJapanesetechnology,asdemandforurbantransportandenergy-relatedinfrastructurewithintheregionisexpectedtoincreaseasaresultoftheregion’seconomicdevelopment.Japanhasalsobeen
workinghardonenhancingcooperativerelationshipswithcountrieswhicharerichinthoseresources,inordertosecureastablesupplyofresourcesandfoodfromtheregion. With regard to increasing cooperation in theinternationalarena,JapanhasbeencollaboratingwithLatinAmericanandCaribbeancountriesinaddressingvariousissuesthattheinternationalcommunityfaces,such as sustainable growth, environmental issuesand climate change, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation,aswellastheUnitedNationsSecurityCouncil(UNSC)reform.Atthesametime,JapanhasbeenreinforcingcooperationanddialoguewithregionalorganizationssuchasthePacificAlliance.JapanisalsoworkingtoimprovecooperationandcollaborationwithLatinAmericanandCaribbeancountriesthroughvisitsofkeyofficialsandpoliticaldialogue.
4. Europe Europehasconsiderableinfluenceoninternationalopinion, underpinned by such factors as language,culturalandartisticactivities,andthepowerfulvoiceofmajormedia,thinktanksandotherinstitutions.Fromaneconomicperspective,theEuropeanUnion(EU)hasapowerfulpresenceasitsGDPaccountsfor23%oftheworldtotal.Asmembersofkeybodieswithintheinternationalframework—includingtheUnitedNationsSecurityCouncilandtheGroupofEight(G8)—majorEuropean countries play an important role in theestablishmentofnormsbytheinternationalcommunity.Furthermore,JapanandEurope,sharingfundamentalvalues and principles such as freedom, democracy,humanrightsandtheruleoflaw,areimportantvitalpartnersplayingaleadingroleinstrivingforpeaceandprosperityoftheinternationalcommunity.Cooperationwith Europe is extremely important for Japan topromoteitssecuritypolicyof“ProactiveContributiontoPeace”inresponsetotheshiftintheglobalpowerbalance,achieveeconomicgrowth,establishinternationalnormsandtackleglobalissuessuchasdisarmamentandnon-proliferationandcounter-terrorism.Inparticular,inadditiontomaintainingbilateralrelationswitheach
European country, Japan needs to further broadenJapan–EuroperelationsbystrengtheningcooperationwithEuropean-basedinstitutionssuchastheEU,theNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization(NATO),andtheOrganizationforSecurityandCo-operationinEurope(OSCE),andEuropeanregionalframeworkssuchastheVisegradGroupplusJapan (V4+Japan)andtheNordic–BalticEightplusJapan(NB8+Japan).Basedonthisrecognition,Japanwasveryactiveinconductingdiplomaticmeetingsatthesummitlevelandforeignminister’s level, including visits by Prime MinisterShinzoAbetoPoland,theUnitedKingdomandIrelandinJune2013,andavisittoJapanbyFrenchPresidentFrançoisHollandeinthesamemonth.Japanwasalsoactive in conducting summit meetings and foreignministers’meetingson thesidelinesof internationalconferences,includingtheG8SummitinJune,theUnitedNations(UN)GeneralAssemblyinSeptemberandthe11thASEMForeignMinisters’Meeting(ASEMFMM11)inNovember.Throughsuchopportunities,JapannotonlyworkedtostrengthendiplomaticrelationswithEurope,butalsobuildpersonalrelationshipsoftrustattheSummitandforeignminister’slevel.
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Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess arriving at the investiture ceremony of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (April 30, 2013, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Source: AFP–Jiji)
WithregardtoJapan’srelationshipwithEurope,negotiations on a Japan–EU Economic PartnershipAgreement (EPA) and on a Strategic PartnershipAgreement(SPA)werelaunchedinApril2013.Thesenegotiationshavebeenproducingfruitfuldiscussionsinawiderangeoffields.InNovember2013,the21stJapan–EUSummitMeetingwasheldinTokyoafterahiatusofabouttwo-and-a-halfyears,andtheleadersofJapanandtheEUagreedtopromotecooperationinthefieldsofeconomy,securityandglobalinterest.In
particular,theindustrialsectorsinJapanandtheEUhaveexpressedhighexpectationsregardingtheJapan–EUEPAasaneffortthatwillcontributetoeconomicgrowthinbothJapanandtheEU.Inaddition,JapanpursuedabroadarrayofexchangeswithcountriesthroughoutEuropeinsuchfieldsaseducation,culture,andscienceandtechnology.ByadvancingconcretecooperationwithEurope,Japanisstrivingtomaintainamulti-layered,closerelationship includingthroughpromotionofmutualunderstanding.
5. Russia, Central Asia and the Caucasus GiventherapidlychangingstrategicenvironmentoftheAsia–Pacificregion,promotingcooperationwithRussiaineveryrelatedfieldandelevatingoverallJapan–RussiarelationscontributesnotonlytoJapan’snationalinterestbutalsocontributestopeaceandprosperityin the region. With such understanding, proactivedialoguesatvariouslevelswereheldin2013,includingfoursummitmeetingsbetweenPrimeMinisterShinzoAbeandPresidentVladimirPutinandtwoForeignMinisters’Meetings. DuringPrimeMinisterAbe’svisittoRussiainApril,the two leadersagreed toaccelerate talks inordertofindamutuallyacceptablesolutionregardingtheissueofconcludingapeacetreaty.Moreover,PrimeMinisterAbewasaccompaniedbyaneconomicmissionconsistingof120businesspeople,andthetwoleadersdetermined to promote cooperation including newfields. They also concurred in holding the Year ofJapan–RussiaMartialArtsExchanges in2014.ThisvisitaddedanewimpetustoJapan–Russiarelations,andsetanewdirectionforlong-termrelationships. InNovember,thefirstJapan–RussiaJointForeign
andDefenseMinisterialConsultations(2+2)washeld,andforeignanddefenseministersexchangedviewsonthesecurityanddefensepoliciesofbothcountries,andsecuritycooperation. TheNorthernTerritoriesIssueisthemostsignificantchallenge between Japan andRussia. Based on theagreementabovebetweenPrimeMinisterAbeandPresident Putin, vice-ministerial level talks held inAugustreopenedthenegotiations,butthereremainsawidegapinthebasicpositionofbothcountries.Throughpromotingcooperationineveryrelatedfieldincludingsecurity,economyandpeople-to-peopleexchange,Japanhas determined to patiently tackle the negotiationswithRussiawith aview to resolving theNorthernTerritoriesIssue,andconcludingapeacetreaty. Countries inCentralAsia and theCaucasus aresituatedinastrategicgeopoliticallocationthatbridgesAsia,Europe,RussiaandtheMiddleEast,andhaveabundantnaturalresourcessuchasoil,naturalgasandminerals.This region is also becoming increasinglyimportantinthecontextofeffortstoaddressanumberofissuesfacingtheinternationalcommunity,suchasthe
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stabilizationofAfghanistan,thefightagainstterrorism,measurestocounterillicitdrugs,andpreventionoftheproliferationofweapons. Japan isworking to further strengthen bilateralrelationshipswith thesecountries through frequentvisitsinvolvingavarietyofhigh-levelofficials,andwillcontinuetopromoteregionalcooperationinCentral
Asiautilizingtheframeworkofthe“CentralAsiaplusJapan”Dialogue.Keepinginmindthat2014willmarkthetenthanniversaryoftheinitiationofthisDialogue,viewswereexchangedduring2013inawidevarietyofformatswithregardtohowbesttopromoteregionalcooperation.
6. The Middle East and North Africa TheMiddleEastandNorthAfricanregion(hereafterreferredtoasthe“MiddleEastregion”)issituatedinageopoliticallyimportantlocationattheintersectionof Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia andSouthAsia.Thisregioncontainsamajorinternationalmaritimerouteforinternationalcommerce,andisalsoanimportantsupplierofenergyresources,includingoilandnaturalgas,totherestoftheworld.Ontheotherhand,thisareaisfacinganumberofchallengesthat destabilize the region, such as the situation inSyria,theIraniannuclearissue,theMiddleEastPeaceProcess,andsecurityandreconstructioninIraqandAfghanistan.Addressingthesechallengesisofgreatimportancenotonlyforthepeaceandstabilityoftheregion,butalsoforJapan,whichimportsmorethan80%ofitscrudeoilfromtheregion,andalsofortheinternationalcommunityasawhole. ForJapan,itisimportanttoturnitsrelationshipwiththeMiddleEast,whichhasconventionallybeencenteredonresourcesandenergy, intoamoremulti-layeredrelationshipthatencompasseswide-rangingeconomiccooperation,politicsandsecurity,aswellascultureandpeople-to-peopleexchanges.Withthisobjectiveinmind,PrimeMinisterShinzoAbeannouncedontheoccasionofhisvisittoSaudiArabiainMay2013thatJapanwouldfundamentallystrengthentherelationshipbetweenJapanandtheMiddleEastthroughbuildinga“ComprehensivePartnershiptowardStabilityandProsperity.” WithregardtothesituationinSyria,amatteroflongstandingconcerntotheinternationalcommunity,Japanjoinedtogetherwiththerestoftheworldtocalluponthepartiesinvolvedtoceaseallviolence.Inaddition,PrimeMinisterAbeannouncedinaspeechtotheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyinSeptemberthatJapanwouldspendanadditionalUS$60millionin
humanitarianaidforrefugeesandinternallydisplacedpersons.AsfortheMiddleEastPeaceProcess,MinisterforForeignAffairsFumioKishidatraveledtoIsrael,PalestineandJordaninJulyandmetwiththeleadersofeachcountry/regiontoencouragethemtoachievepeace,andaministerialmeetingattendedbythefourforeignministerswasheldtoadvanceJapan’sinitiativeof“CorridorforPeaceandProsperity.”InNovember,significant progress was made with regard to theIraniannuclearissuethroughtheagreementreachedattheEU3+38meetings.Pursuingthematterfroma Japanese standpoint, thePrimeMinister’sSpecialEnvoy,Mr.MasahikoKoumura,andForeignMinisterKishidavisitedIranandcalleduponIrantobeflexibleinitsapproachtothenegotiationsaboutitsnuclearissue. More recently, theMiddleEast regionhasbeenachieving stable economic development that isattributedtotherapidlygrowingyoungpopulation,andisincreasingitsinternationalappealasaconsumermarket and an investment destination. Therefore,JapanhasbeendevelopinglegalframeworkssuchasEPAs,FTAs,investmentagreementsandtaxtreatieswhichwillbecomethefoundationforstrengtheningitseconomicandbusinessrelationshipswiththecountriesintheregion,andhasbeenpromotinginfrastructureprojectsintheregion.PrimeMinisterAbepaidthreevisitstocountriesintheMiddleEastduring2013—inMay,AugustandOctober—andduringeachofthesevisitshewasaccompaniedbyaneconomicdelegationrepresentingJapan’sbusinesscommunity.Thiseconomicdelegationwasabletomakeappealstothehigh-rankingofficialsinthesecountriesregardingJapan’sstrengthsinawiderangeoffieldsincludingenergy,infrastructuredevelopment,healthandmedicine,andcutting-edgetechnologies.
8 ReferstoaframeworkfordialogueregardingIraniannuclearissuethatincludestheEU3(theUnitedKingdomandFrance,permanentmembersoftheUNSecurityCouncil,aswellasGermany),alongwiththreeotherpermanentmembersoftheUNSecurityCouncil,theUnitedStates,ChinaandRussia.
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7. Sub-Saharan Africa Africa, with its abundance of natural resourcesandpopulationofonebillion,hasenjoyedhighannualgrowthratesaveragingapproximately6%throughoutthe2000s.Atthesametime,findingsolutionstotheproblemsfacingAfrica,suchaspoverty,inequality,andconflicts,isamatterofgreatconcerntotheinternationalcommunity. Against this background, Africa is becomingincreasinglyimportanttoJapanfromaforeignpolicyviewpointforthefollowingreasons:(1)expansionoftradeandinvestmentbetweenJapanandAfrica,whichhasgreatpotentialasanimportsource,manufacturingcenter, and consumer market, can help Japan torevitalizeitsowneconomy;(2)contributiontofindingsolutionstopoverty,inequality,conflictsandterrorisminAfricawillhelpJapanearnthetrustandrespectoftheinternationalcommunity;(3)strengtheningrelationswithAfrica,whoseinfluenceisincreasingwithintheinternationalcommunity,willenhanceJapan’sabilitytogainsupportintheinternationalarena. GiventheimportancetoJapanofdiplomaticrelationswith Africa, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe activelyexchangedvisitswithAfricanleadersfrom2013throughthebeginningof2014.InJune2013,39Africanheadsof state and government came to Japan to attendtheFifthTokyoInternationalConferenceonAfricanDevelopment(TICADV).Atthisconference,whichdiscussedtheimportanceofeconomicgrowthledbytheprivatesector,PrimeMinisterAbeannouncedsupportmeasuresthroughpublicandprivatefundstotalingupto3.2trillionyen(including1.4trillionyeninofficialdevelopmentassistance),anddeclaredthatJapanwouldcontribute to the realization of “QualityGrowth” inAfrica,encompassingfieldssuchasdevelopment,peaceandstability.InJanuary2014,PrimeMinisterAbepaidavisittoAfrica(Côted’Ivoire,Mozambique,andEthiopia),marking thefirst time ineightyears that a sittingJapanesePrimeMinisterhadvisitedthatcontinent.In
Côted’Ivoire,theleadersof13countries,including10neighboringcountries,gatheredtostrengthenmutualtrustwithJapan.Further,inEthiopiaPrimeMinisterAbemadeapolicyspeechinwhichheappealedtoAfricatochooseJapanasitstruepartner,andexplainedthevirtuesofJapaneseaidandinvestment.Inaddition,representativesfromatotalof33privatecompaniesalsoaccompaniedthePrimeMinister,andineachcountrythey visited they had the opportunity to introducetheirrespectivecompaniesandproductswiththeaimofstrengtheningbusinessrelationswithAfrica.PrimeMinisterAbe also explained the content of Japan’spolicyofits“ProactiveContributiontoPeace.”throughwhichJapanwillcontributemoreactivelythaneverbefore to thepromotion of peace and stability at aregionalandgloballevel.Inthisregard,PrimeMinisterAbeannouncedthatJapanwaspreparedtoimplementassistanceofapproximately320millionUSdollarsinordertorespondtoconflictsanddisastersinAfrica. Amongothermeasures taken in 2013 shouldbementionedthedispatchofadelegationofgovernmentandprivate-sectorrepresentativestotheRepublicofCongo, Gabon, and Côte d’Ivoire to promote tradeand investment (November and December 2013),theassistance(yearround)toAfricanPKOtrainingcenterstohelppromotepeaceandstability,andtheestablishmentofanembassyinSouthSudan(July)toreinforcetieswithAfrica. Unfortunately,2013wasalsotheyearinwhichtheworldlost(onDecember5)agreatmanofAfrica,formerpresidentofSouthAfricaNelsonMandela,whohaddevotedhislifetotherealizationofuniversalvaluessuchasfreedomandequality.HisImperialHighnesstheCrownPrinceofJapan,aswellasformerPrimeMinisterYasuoFukuda(asSpecialEnvoy),attendedthefuneralceremonyheldinJohannesburgonDecember10toexpresstheircondolencesonthelossoftheformerpresident.
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SpecialFeature
The Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V)
1. Overview of TICAD V and the Outcome TheFifthTokyoInternationalConferenceonAfricanDevelopment(TICADV)washeldinYokohamaonJune1–3,2013.TheconferenceendedasoneofthelargestsummitmeetingseverheldinJapanwiththeparticipantstotalingmorethan4,500,includingPrimeMinisterShinzoAbe,MinisterforForeignAffairsFumioKishida,aswellasrepresentativesfrom51Africancountriesincluding39headsofstateandgovernment,delegatesfrom31developmentpartnercountriesandAsiannations,72internationalandregionalorganizations,theprivatesector,NGOsandcivilsociety.Inaddition,avarietyofsideeventswereheldwithmuchattendancefromthepublic. TICADVupheldthecoremessageof“HandinHandwithaMoreDynamicAfrica.”Undertheconcept,activediscussionswereconductedonthefutureofAfricandevelopment,centeringonthemainthemesofTICADV,namely“RobustandSustainableEconomy,”“InclusiveandResilientSociety,”and“PeaceandStability.” Inhiskeynotespeech,PrimeMinisterAbeannouncedthebasicpolicyofJapanonassistancetoAfrica,alongwithanassistancepackagecomprisinguptoapproximately3.2trillionyen(32billionUSD)inpublic–privateinitiatives,includingapproximately1.4trillionyen(14billionUSD)inofficialdevelopmentassistance;capacitybuildingforbusinessandindustry,includingthrough“AfricanBusinessEducation(ABE)Initiative”;anddevelopmentandhumanitarianassistancetotheSahelregion.Inaddition,TICADVadoptedtwooutcomedocuments,namely,“YokohamaDeclaration2013,”presentingafuturedirectionforAfricandevelopment,and“YokohamaActionPlan2013–2017,”aroadmapfortheTICADProcessoverthenextfiveyearswithspecificmeasures.
Prime Minister Abe (center) with world leaders (June 1, 2014, Yokohama; Source: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
2. Relationship with Africa after TICAD V SinceTICADV,JapanhasactivelydeployeditsdiplomacytowardAfricainordertomaintainthemomentumandtosteadilyimplementitspledges.Forexample,theJapan–AfricanRegionalEconomicCommunities(RECs)SummitRoundtablewasheldinNewYorkonthemarginsoftheUNGeneralAssemblyonSeptember26,2013,chairedbyPrimeMinisterAbe.Intheroundtable,participantsexchangedviewsonagriculturaldevelopmentandfoodsecurity.Inaddition,fromNovember24toDecember5,2013,JapandispatchedaPublicandPrivateSectorJointMissionforPromotingTradeandInvestmentforAfricatotheRepublicoftheCongo,theGaboneseRepublic,andCôted’Ivoire.Thus,JapanhopestofurtherdevelopitsrelationswithAfricathroughsuchfollow-upmeasurestoTICADV.Furthermore,PrimeMinisterAbevisitedthreeAfricancountriesinJanuary2014,fulfillinghispromiseatTICADVtovisitAfricainthenearfuture.
