Foreign Policy Speech by Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi to the 142nd Session of the Diet
(provisional translation)
February 16, 1998
On the occasion of the 142nd session of the Diet, I would like to state the basic policies of Japan's diplomacy.
I would first of all like to refer to the situation of Iraq, where tension is rising. The stubborn attitude of the Iraqi Government , defying the accumulated U.N. Security Council resolutions on the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, is indeed a major challenge to the international community aspiring peace. Only a few years ago we Japanese people experienced the horror of the chemical weapons such as sarin and VX gas that Iraq is suspected to possess. In order to prevent the proliferation of such weapons of mass destruction, it is important for Iraq to accept full inspections by the United Nations immediately and unconditionally. Japan intends to work on this matter cooperatively with other relevant countries while continuing diplomatic efforts.
Today's International Situation and Japan's Basic Diplomatic Policies
What is the international situation surrounding Japan today, just three years away from the twenty-first century? After a brief period of turmoil following the end of the Cold War, the fundamental ideas cherishing democracy and free market economies seem to have taken root widely around the world, and various regional disputes appear to be heading toward solution. There are burgeoning movements for establishing new international frameworks, as evidenced by the vigorous diplomatic activities being pursued among the four nations in the Asia-Pacific region: Japan and the United States now being joined by China and Russia.On the other side of the coin, however, situations are emerging that call for a bold and urgent response, such as the economic problems facing East Asian countries today.
In these circumstances, we must give in-depth thought to the directions that Japanese diplomacy should take. For this purpose, it is important for us to have a clear historical perspective and an accurate vision of the future. With a correct understanding of the present condition and changes in the international situation, and bearing in mind Japan's posture in the twenty-first century, I am determined to dedicate myself to Japan's diplomacy in a resolute and active manner.
Bilateral and Regional Relations
In the Asia-Pacific region, to which Japan belongs, it is essential to ensure the cooperation among Japan, the United States, China and Russia towards the establishment of a framework for peace and stability of the region. For this, Japan is making efforts to further enhance our relations with the United States, the cornerstone of Japan's diplomacy, to further develop our relations with China, and to make progress in our relations with Russia. I believe that as these quadripartite relations evolve, we should be aware of the possibility of the four nations meeting together in the future to have discussions on various matters of mutual concern.
Sound Japan-U.S. relations are of utmost significance not only for the both countries, but also for the stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region and in turn the entire world.
The Japan-U.S. security arrangements, the heart of our relations with the United States, is the essential pillar of Japan's security policies and plays a role to maintain peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, we must devote further efforts for the smooth and effective application of this arrangement and, in particular, vigorously pursue measures for ensuring the effectiveness of the new Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation. In this regard, the government maintains the policy that steady implementation of the final report issued by the Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO), including the return of Futenma Air Station and the construction of a sea-based heliport facility, is the most secure way to alleviate the burden on the people in Okinawa. The government will continue to make efforts to obtain the understanding and cooperation of the concerned local citizens towards the implementation of the final report.
Of course, the Japan-U.S. relations encompass a wide variety of comprehensive cooperation in economic, social, cultural and other areas, as well as security concerns. We will strive for the further enhancement of our bilateral relations in its entirety.
As for the Japan-China relations, following the mutual visits by the Japanese Prime Minister and the Chinese Premier last year, President Jiang Zemin is scheduled to visit Japan this year which marks the 20th anniversary of the conclusion of the Japan-China Peace and Friendship Treaty. Through frequent high-level exchanges and various policy dialogues, including those on security issues, we will make continued efforts for further promotion of mutual understanding and cooperation. We will continue to support China's open and reform policy by supporting China's early accession to the WTO and extending economic cooperation. We will also strive to resolve pending issues which exist between Japan and China, such as the issue of the disposal of abandoned chemical weapons.
Concerning Russia, in Krasnoyarsk, the leaders agreed to do their utmost to conclude a peace treaty on the basis of the Tokyo Declaration by the year 2000. Furthermore, we have witnessed unseen developments between the two countries lately by achieving balanced results in such areas as economy, security and others. I reached agreement with Foreign Minister Evgenii Primakov at the meeting last November to conduct peace treaty negotiations with the foreign ministers of both countries as their responsible persons. Recently, ' the Japanese-Russian Joint Committee on questions regarding conclusion of a peace treaty' was established. In addition, the Negotiations for the Framework of Fishing Operations in the waters surrounding the Four Northern Islands was substantially concluded at the end of last year. Through my coming visit to Russia and President Boris Yeltsin's visit to Japan scheduled in April, we will continue to promote cooperation in a wide range of areas and work to resolve the Northern Territories issues and to conclude a peace treaty and achieve full normalization of relationships between our two countries, with the determination to resolve this problem of this century within this century, together with Prime Minister Hashimoto.
The situation on the Korean Peninsula is extremely important, and friendly and cooperative relations with the Republic of Korea is one of the most important pillars of Japan's diplomacy.
In the Republic of Korea, the most urgent task is to overcome its economic difficulties, and the President-elect, Mr. Kim Dae Jung, is doing his utmost to tackle this problem. We have to deal appropriately with various questions between Japan and the ROK, cooperate closely in the international community, and further develop friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries. At the end of last year, I conveyed such thinking to the President-elect Mr. Kim Dae Jung, and received a positive response from him. Concerning the fishery agreement with the ROK, unfortunately, the two governments were not able to reach an agreement. The other day, the government, in accordance with the present agreement, notified the Republic of Korea of Japan's intention to terminate the Japan-R.O.K. Fishery Agreement. The government of Japan will continue the negotiations in order to conclude a new agreement at the earliest possible time with the determination to promptly establish a new fishery order based on the purport of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Concerning North Korea, we will continue to closely watch the situation in North Korea and pursue the resolution of pending issues such as the suspected abductions and the home visits of Japanese spouses residing in North Korea. And we will seek to rectify the anomalous relations between Japan and North Korea, in a conducive way to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula in close contact with the Republic of Korea and other countries concerned. We welcome the start of plenary sessions of the Four Party Meetings and continue to take an active part in the activities of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO).
It is highly crucial for the whole region to deal appropriately with the economic difficulties faced by East Asian countries since last year. Arising within the development of the interdependence that has been observed globally in recent years, these economic problems are creating a sense of instability in the entire global economy. It is of urgent necessity for the international community all together to tackle them by avoiding the rise of protectionism. With the increasing expectation, Japan, in collaboration with the countries involved and international organizations, has been extending support to Thailand, Indonesia, and the Republic of Korea. It is important to cooperate one another to surmount the problems, which the respective countries in East Asia are currently facing, and to further strengthen the mutual relations. As the second largest economic power in the world and the largest economic presence in the region, Japan will show leadership on various occasions such as summit meetings of major countries. It is our recognition that the economies of the region have the potential for further growth through sound macroeconomic policies and structural reforms. And Japan, although facing severe domestic economic situations, is determined to respond as much as possible to the expectations of the international community.
Turning our attention to the world at large, the development of European integration exert significant influence on the entire international community in the process of constructing a new international order, and, therefore, relationship of cooperation with Europe is increasingly important for Japan. I will make efforts to further strengthen Japan-Europe relations through various diplomatic and cultural events.
Concerning the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean, we will pay close attention to the progress of democratization and economic development in those countries and enhance our assistance for the resolution of poverty, the environment and other problems. In the Middle East, through our support for the Middle East peace process, we will contribute to the peace and stability in the region. As for our relations with the African nations, assistance for these countries' self-help efforts is essential for both development and stability. Japan will host the Second Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD II) in October of this year. Regarding the Silk Road region, we will support the nation-building efforts of those countries, through the strengthening of political dialogues and economic cooperation with them.
In this way, I myself will painstakingly endeavor to strengthen our relations with a variety of nations and expand the breadth of Japan's diplomacy.
Regional Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region
In addition to the strengthening of our bilateral relations, the promotion of regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific is vital. Even under the present economic situation in East Asia, APEC plays a crucial role by promoting the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment in the region. In the area of security, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is achieving steady results as it confirms the initiation of government-level considerations on preventive diplomacy, as well as fosters confidence-building. Moreover, the Second Asia-Europe Meeting will be held in April of this year, which will carry great significance for the advancement of mutual understanding and cooperation between Asia and Europe.
Issues for the International Community and Cooperation for Global Solutions
Looking at the world with a global perspective, we find it even further important to face serious challenges such as regional conflicts, disarmament and non-proliferation, development, the environment, democratization, human rights, transnational organized crime, terrorism and so on. Japan will tackle these challenges as its own problems, and play an active role to realize a peaceful and prosperous world.
The Framework to Tackle Global Issues
The United Nations is the primary framework for dealing with these global issues. We will exert our utmost efforts for the early realization of a reform of the United Nations as a whole in a balanced manner, to enable the U.N. fulfill its role in responding even more effectively to the needs of the times. As Japan has stated in various occasions, having been supported by many countries it is prepared to discharge its responsibilities as a permanent member of the Security Council, through the reform of the United Nations, in accordance with its basic philosophy of the non-resort to the use of force prohibited by its Constitution.
Initiatives for Peace
As was addressed at the Tokyo International Conference on Preventive Strategy hosted by Japan recently, Japan will continue to cooperate with U.N. peacekeeping operations and others for the peace and stability in the international community, from a broad perspective aiming to support prevention of regional conflicts and post-conflict nation-building activities. In this connection, Japan will extend assistance to Cambodia, for whose establishment of peace Japan has made efforts, for the holding of free and fair elections this July. Moreover, concerning refugee problems accompanying these regional conflicts, Japan continues its policy of actively extending assistance for refugees. The funding for this policy has high-priority in the government's draft budget.
For world peace, disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction are crucial issues. Japan will seriously tackle these issues such as the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
Last December, I myself signed the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction and the government intend to exert itself for the early ratification. And the government decided to contribute on the order of 10 billion yen over the next five years for mine clearance and victims assistance. Moreover, Japan has taken a special action to allow export of mine clearing equipment for humanitarian purpose by deciding not to apply the three principles on arms export to such export. Japan, in future, will take the initiative in dealing with the problems of the transfer and excessive accumulation of conventional arms, including small arms.
Initiatives for Prosperity
Concerning the development of the global economy, it is essential to strengthen the multilateral trading system around the World Trade Organization (WTO) so that the international community can enjoy the maximum benefit from globalization.
At the same time, we must support development in developing countries. Official development assistance (ODA) is the most important means by which we undertake this important activity. Though the draft budget for the next fiscal year indicates that Japan's ODA budget will be cut by 10.4%, the government will maximize the efficiency of these limited resources by coordinating involved organizations to make budgetary reallocations and by resolutely reforming its ODA through activities including reviewing country strategies, improving aid management and organization, promoting broader participation of the public and so on. Within this process of reform, the government wishes to involve the Japanese citizenry in determining the direction of ODA and help them to understand the government's policies.
Moreover, mid- and long-term energy policies that are based on a global perspective are indispensable for the global economy. For this, we will participate in the efforts to ensure the stable energy supply, through our assistance for the development of energy resources and other measures.
On the other hand, for sustainable development, all countries have to make concerted efforts to resolve the environmental problems. Japan has done its utmost efforts to combat environmental problems as the presiding country of the recent Kyoto conference on the prevention of global warming, and we will continue to play a vigorous role for protecting the future of the earth.
Overseas Safety Measures
An increasing number of Japanese people are traveling widely overseas and living in foreign countries, and we certainly hope that they will play a larger role in international exchanges and cooperation. However, tragic accidents and incidents are fresh in our memories to which Japanese people have fallen victim in overseas countries where the public safety conditions are different from those in Japan. Accordingly, the government will strengthen measures for the safety of Japanese nationals overseas, as they themselves take more notice of the dangers.
Conclusion
I have described in detail the Japan's basic foreign policies. In the face of harsh economic climate that confronts us on the domestic front today, we tend to be inward-looking and to turn our attention more to domestic issues than foreign relations. But it would be impossible to maintain the peaceful and affluent life that we enjoy today without the peace and prosperity of the world as a whole. Diplomacy is not conducted by the government alone. Being very concerned about the direction of Japanese diplomacy after the Russe-Japanese War, Professor Kan'ichi Asakawa of Yale University wrote a book on crises facing Japan 90 years ago. In which, he argued that what ultimately determines Japan's relations with foreign countries is Japanese people's understanding on foreign policies. I believe the same thing applies to the Japanese diplomacy of today.
How should we conduct Japanese diplomacy so as to hand over a peaceful and affluent Japan, and a peaceful and affluent world, onto the next generation? As the Chief diplomat, and as a citizen of this country, I would like to think about this question together with you all. I ask for your wise and warm support and cooperation to promote a " diplomacy that moves hand in hand with the people." (end)
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