(Provisional Translation)
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Policy Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs
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21 January 2005
Japanese
At the beginning of the 162nd session of the Diet, I would like to speak about the basic orientation of Japan's diplomatic policy.
First, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the victims and those who have lost family members due to the major earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia and subsequent tsunami in the Indian Ocean. I can only imagine how those who have yet to find out the whereabouts of their family members must feel. The Government intends to continue taking every possible step to confirm the whereabouts of Japanese nationals who are still missing. At the same time, as a member of Asia, Japan will provide maximum assistance to the countries located along the coast of the Indian Ocean in the three areas of financial resources, human resources, and knowledge and expertise. At the United Nations World Conference on Disaster Reduction that is currently being held in Kobe, Japan will strive to draft a new disaster reduction guideline for the 21st century, aimed at alleviating damages caused by natural disasters around the world, and swiftly develop a tsunami early warning mechanism in the Indian Ocean, drawing lessons from the recent major tsunami experience.
(Introduction)
This year marks a turning point, sixty years after the end of World War II. In retrospect, Japan lifted itself up from the devastation of the war and achieved miraculous economic development, having established its international status as a country that aspires for peace through international contributions that befit its national power. What lies behind such achievements are not only the efforts the Japanese people themselves have made, but also the friendly relations that Japan has built with friendly countries and neighboring countries. In particular, Japan's international peace cooperation activities, which expanded both quantitatively and qualitatively since the Gulf War, are increasingly appreciated internationally.
Meanwhile, there are unstable factors in the international security environment surrounding Japan, such as issues concerning the Korean Peninsula and Taiwan Strait in East Asia, and new threats have emerged, including terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their delivery means. The international community is currently seeking a new international order. Japan has drawn up a new National Defense Program Guideline in order to promote security policies that take this international environment into consideration. Through such steps, Japan is responding properly to the needs of our times and actively engaging in diplomacy with a view to establishing a peaceful, stable international order. As Japan celebrates its 60th birthday as a peace-loving nation, its diplomacy is put to the test.
(Reform of the United Nations and Japan becoming a permanent member of the Security Council)
After World War II, Japan rejoined the international community through the entry to the United Nations. Based on the policy toward peace and international cooperation, Japan has consistently attached importance to the United Nations and has made international contributions through it. As the United Nations also turns 60 years old this year, it is at a historical turning point for evolving itself into an institution which reflects the international community in the 21st century and can effectively address its agendas. The call for the Security Council reform is mounting; Japan will make its utmost efforts to reform the Security Council, and realize a permanent membership for Japan in a reformed Security Council through steadily addressing various issues.
When Japan becomes a permanent member of the Security Council, Japan will be able to always take part deeply in the political decision-making process on major international issues, thereby ensuring Japan's national interest more effectively. Also, Japan's permanent membership in the Security Council will enhance credibility of the Security Council through enhancing the representation of Asian countries, and strengthening its effectiveness by further promoting Japan's international contribution.
Japan has been active as a non-permanent member of the Security Council beginning this year. During its two-year term, Japan is to chair the Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations and intends to make a wide range of efforts, especially in the area of peace-building.
(Strengthening Japan-United States relations)
The Japan-United States bilateral relationship is the linchpin of Japan's foreign policies. Strengthening this alliance further in a wide range of areas including political and economic fields not only contributes to the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region, but is also vital for Japan's foreign policies which aim at realizing the peace and stability in the world. Japan will aim at improving the credibility of the Japan-United States security arrangements, and the two countries will cooperate in coping with the various challenges with international cooperation based on the idea of "Japan-United States alliance in the global context." The United States is currently realigning its military posture on a global scale in order to deal with new threats. Regarding the review of the posture of US Forces in Japan, Japan will cooperate with the United States from the standpoint of ensuring Japan's security that corresponds to the international situation in the 21st century. Japan will also continue to hold consultations with the United States in order to maintain the deterrence provided by the presence of the US Forces and reduce the excessive burden on local communities including Okinawa. At the same time, the Government intends to continue to steadily implement the Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO) Final Report, including the return and relocation of Futenma Air Station.
(Promoting relations with neighboring countries and major countries, among others)
For ensuring Japan's security and prosperity, it is essential to strengthen relations with China, the Republic of Korea (ROK), the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as partners that "act together, advance together," and neighboring countries such as India and Australia, as well as Europe and Latin America.
The first-ever East Asia Summit is scheduled to be held this year, and regional cooperation is deepening in Asia with a view to creating an East Asian community (EAc). Since promotion of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) with neighboring Asian countries and functional cooperation regarding transnational issues in various areas in a multilayered manner are desirable from the perspective of building a foundation of shared values in the region and ensuring peace and prosperity, Japan intends to actively contribute to this end. This year is designated as the "EU-Japan Year of People-to-People Exchanges." Japan will also host the Seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kyoto in May. Japan will thus aim to strengthen the dialogue and cooperation between Europe and Asia including Japan.
Bearing in mind that economic activities and regional cooperation in Asia are advancing, it is important for Japan to secure its maritime interests with a view to ensuring Japan's economic security. Japan will make every effort to this end by conducting investigations into the marine resources and continental shelf surrounding Japan.
Japan places emphasis on its relations with the People's Republic of China as one of its most important bilateral relations. For Japan, China represents an enormous, valuable opportunity for the future. The rapid advancement of economic relations and people-to-people exchanges between Japan and China should be welcomed from the standpoint of stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. In this light, Japan intends to continue promoting the expansion of exchanges in the area of trade, investment and culture, among others. At the same time, Japan intends to deal appropriately with the pending issues between the two countries such as the issue of resource development in the East China Sea and ocean survey vessels. Japan intends to work toward the resolution of these issues by deepening serious dialogue and establish future-oriented Japan-China relations even if views on individual issues may differ.
As for the Republic of Korea, with which Japan has been forging notably closer relations in recent years, Japan will harness the achievements made during President Roh Moo Hyun's last visit to Japan, such as holding continuously the "Shuttle Summit Meetings," and further deepening future-oriented relations between the two countries. With a view to promoting mutual understanding and exchanges at the people's level, Japan will strive to make the Japan-Korea Friendship Year 2005 a success and also take concrete steps to increase the number of international charter flights between Haneda and Kimpo airports, among others.
With regard to North Korea, in line with Japan's basic policy of "dialogue and pressure," Japan will continue to tenaciously endeavor to comprehensively resolve the various issues of concern on the basis of the Pyongyang Declaration. The abduction issue is a grave issue that concerns the lives and safety of the Japanese citizens. The Government sent a severe protest to the North Korean side at the end of last year, and expressed its deep regret for the successive insincere handling of the matter, notifying the North Korean side that Japan intended to implement severe measures if North Korea fails to respond promptly and sincerely. The Government has urged the North Korean side to respond promptly with a view to realizing the return of the surviving abductees and providing a full account on the matter. As for the nuclear and missile issues of North Korea, which directly impact Japan's security, Japan intends to channel all its energy into resolving these issues, with the aim of realizing the next round of the Six-Party Talks at the earliest date in order to dissolve the current deadlock wherein no concrete progress is apparent.
Regarding relations with the Russian Federation, this year marks the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Russia. It is necessary to achieve a breakthrough in the current situation, in which the position of the two sides concerning the territorial issue have remained as far apart as ever, even to this date after 60 years since the end of World War II. In my recent meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov, we agreed to continue holding serious negotiations in order to overcome the gaps in the positions of the two countries. Under the basic policy of concluding a peace treaty through the solution of the issue of where the four islands belong to, I will continue to energetically engage in negotiations. At the same time, I intend to promote bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas. I hope these steps will contribute to President Vladimir Putin's upcoming visit to Japan and subsequent negotiations.
(Efforts toward peace and stability in the Middle East)
The Middle East is strategically important for Japan's national interest, and as such, it is a major diplomatic challenge for Japan to further promote its cooperation for the peace and stability of the Middle East. In Iraq, the election for the National Assembly is scheduled to be held at the end of January. In order to help the Iraqi people reconstruct Iraq as a new democratic nation by themselves, Japan will cooperate with the international community to continue its reconstruction assistance by means of ODA in tandem with the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) whose period of dispatch was extended at the end of last year.
With respect to the issue of peace in the Middle East, we now have a historic opportunity to make progress in the peace process under the leadership of the recently elected Ra'ees (President) of the Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority Mahmoud Abbas and the newly established coalition government in the State of Israel. During my recent visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, I encouraged both sides to make efforts in the peace process in accordance with the Roadmap, and I conveyed to them that Japan was prepared to play a proactive role to this end.
As for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, whose results are steadily appearing, Japan intends to continue to make its efforts for peace-building in cooperation with non-governmental organizations (NGO) and international organizations, among others.
(Development issues and assistance to Africa)
The major focus at the Group of Eight (G8) Summit and the United Nations Summit for reviewing the progress made in the fulfillment of the UN Millennium Declaration this year will be on development issues. Japan intends to vigorously tackle development issues faced by developing countries, starting with poverty reduction. Japan will carry out ODA effectively and strategically, working to resolve these various issues.
In particular, Japan has been providing its assistance to Africa through its unique framework of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) process, which is based on the concept that "there will be no stability and prosperity in the world unless the issues of Africa are resolved." This year, which may well be called the "Year of Africa," the Government will strive toward African development even more earnestly, respecting and encouraging ownership demonstrated by the African Union (AU), and in close cooperation with the United Nations.
(Measures to tackle global issues)
Global issues, including infectious diseases such as AIDS and environmental issues, serve as major impediments to the development of developing countries in particular. Japan will tackle these issues from the standpoint of human security. The Kyoto Protocol will enter into force this year, and climate change will be a major agenda at the G8 Summit. The Government will achieve the minus 6% target for greenhouse gas, as defined by the Kyoto Protocol, and make utmost efforts aimed at creating a set of common rules, in which all countries participate.
(Promoting countermeasures against trafficking in persons)
Trafficking in persons is an extremely serious problem, as illustrated by the fact that children have fallen victim in countries that were hit by the tsunami. The Government is making all-out efforts in order to prevent and eradicate trafficking in persons as well as to provide protection for victims in line with the Action Plan of Measures to Combat Trafficking in Persons, established in December 2004. As part of such efforts, the Government is working with a view to obtaining approval from the Diet for the conclusion of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
(Steps aimed at the development and prosperity of the international community)
The stable, sustainable development of the international community is a prerequisite for Japan's prosperity. In order to maintain and strengthen the multilateral trading system in the international community, Japan will endeavor to make the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference which will be held in December a success, and further to advance towards a final agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round negotiations.
Japan will also vigorously promote economic partnership agreements, including those for which negotiations are under way, namely with the Republic of the Philippines, Kingdom of Thailand, Malaysia and the Republic of Korea, as well as those with ASEAN and other East Asian countries with a view to their future conclusion. Based on the principle of the free economy, Japan intends to further strive to ensure that economic partnerships will contribute to the promotion of structural reform of both Japan and its partner countries, and further liberalize the market and society of both parties.
(Efforts toward disarmament and non-proliferation)
Taking steps to strengthen the disarmament and non-proliferation regime is a critical security challenge for Japan given the current unstable security environment. In particular, responding to the issue of proliferation of WMD is a pressing task. Japan aims to work proactively on this front by taking advantage of opportunities such as the 2005 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in May and the G8 Summit.
(Projecting the attractions of Japan overseas)
It is extremely encouraging to see Japanese people involved in a wide range of fields around the world today as a result of the progress of globalization. The Government would like to project Japan's policy, culture, values, charms and other aspects overseas actively and effectively, and capitalize fully on them for the sake of expanding the scope and depth of diplomacy. The Government will also promote the Visit Japan Campaign and strive to enhance mutual understanding at the popular level by harnessing opportunities such as the Expo 2005 Aichi Japan, which will be held this year.
(Strengthening capacity to gather and analyze external information)
Outstanding capacity to gather and analyze external information is indispensable in order for Japan to be able to respond swiftly to the various challenges in the international community and engage in strategic diplomacy. Japan will endeavor to steadily strengthen the role and system of gathering and analyzing external information from a comprehensive perspective.
(Conclusion)
The Meiji government weathered the storm of globalism for the first time 120 years ago when the Cabinet system was established. In order to survive as a member of the international community, the Meiji government made every effort with every possible ingenious method, in spite of its insufficient experience, know-how and information.
Sixty years ago, Japan took its rugged, unyielding path towards the return to the international community in the unprecednted turmoil after World War II.
Nowadays, compared to the hardship and suffering faced by our predecessors, we are far more fortunate in terms of the environment for pursuing diplomacy in the next 60 years, through which Japan will exercise its power and contribute to Asia and the world. Samuel Smiles, celebrated for his book Self-Help, said, "The spirit that does not soar is destined perhaps to grovel." With the understanding of the people, I am determined to pursue a creative diplomacy with integrity. In this regard, I humbly ask for the support and cooperation of the people of Japan and the members of the Diet.
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