Section 2. Promotion of Relations with Other Nations
For Japan to determine its course and promote its own development in the complicated entanglement of the national interests of various countries in the multi-polarized world, it is necessary to promote, first, its relations with all other countries so as to enable it to conduct a dialogue with any of them. In this context, Japan must maintain friendly relations with all countries and establish relations of mutual understanding and cooperation with them to the greatest extent possible.
Japan, quite naturally, shares a similar sense of values and wide-ranging interests with those other free nations that have the same kind of political, economic and social systems and, therefore, it is a matter of course for it to continue to maintain and promote relations of cooperation and concert with them. At the same time, Japan must promote friendly relations with the socialist countries, who live in the same international society although their political, economic and social systems are different, and must not neglect efforts to foster a deeper respect and understanding of each other's position. Establishing such multilateral friendly relations will make it possible for Japan to have more options and to act more flexibly to promote its national interests.
The following is a general survey of Japan's relations with other countries:
1. Relations with the United States
Relations with the United States are more important for Japan than those with any other country.
As for the importance of Japan-U.S. relations in the economic field, the United States has hitherto been the greatest force supporting the free and non-discriminatory international trade system, which has benefited Japan and brought the prosperity it enjoys today. Although a shadow has been cast over the economic strength of the United States at present, the future progress of the world economy still depends in no small measure on the attitude of the United States in view of the scale and influence of its economy.
Next, Japan's relations with the United States have a very great significance for the peace and security of Japan. Regarding its own defense, Japan's basic concept is to build up gradually a self-defense potential in the field of conventional weapons commensurate with its national power and national conditions, and also to depend on the overall military potential of the United States including its nuclear deterrent power. The maintenance of the Japan-U.S. Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security is an indispensable factor in this concept.
The relative importance of the United States in world politics has been diminishing and its military role in Asia is tending to decrease. However, it is believed that the importance of Japan-U.S. relations will remain unchanged and even increase in the age of multi-polarization. This is because Japan needs to consolidate the foundation of its survival, if it is to successfully maintain its position in the pluralized and complicated international society, in which numerous countries exert varying degrees of influence of each other. Japan-U.S. relations truly- form that foundation. In carrying out a many-sided diplomacy to meet the requirements of a multi-polarized age, the bonds of Japan-U.S. relations will be far from an obstacle, and it will be possible for Japan to carry out truly fruitful multilateral diplomatic activities on the basis of Japan.-U.S. friendship and cooperation. In view of the global influence and roles of the two countries, it should be taken into consideration that developments in Japan-U.S. relations will greatly affect not only Japan but also Asia and the world as a whole.
The year 1972 should be remembered for a long time as the year in which the reversion of Okinawa was realized to fulfill a long-cherished wish of the entire Japanese nation. This was made possible by the firm belief of the Governments of Japan and the United States in the importance of Japan-U.S. relations.
It is regrettably true that, in the past few years, various kinds of frictions have arisen between Japan and the United States in the economic field and that various kinds of mis-understandings and anxieties also resulted from the lack of sufficient prior consultation mainly on China policy. However, these must not be allowed to cast dark shadows on interests common to Japan and the United States and also on their relations of cooperation and trust. Although friction in the economic field will inevitably occur as the two countries promote a greater degree of economic interchange, it may be necessary for both countries to be conscious of their common responsibility for the maintenance and expansion of the world economy and to concentrate their efforts in order to settle problems in the spirit of mutual concession and reciprocity, Similarly, both countries must not lose sight of their broad common interests in political problems as well and, while correctly understanding the differences in each other's position, endeavor to achieve maximum mutual cooperation. For this purpose, it is necessary for both countries to promote more than ever before exchange in the political, economic and social fields and to deepen their mutual understanding through the promotion of such exchange, especially in the cultural field.
It is hoped that the U.S. side will also gauge correctly Japan's capabilities and the wishes of its people and, instead of being carried away by the simple, so-called theory of the balance of power, will act in such a way as to make its relations with its allies truly meaningful in the multi-polar age. On Japan's part, it is indispensable that it abandon such sentimental factors as dependence and antagonism. and associate with the United States with an attitude of pride and responsibility as a true cooperative partner. Although it is by no means easy, the establishment of Japan-U.S. relations in the spirit of partnership in the true sense of the word will be possible only through the accumulation of such efforts.
2. Relations with the People's Republic of China
The People's Republic of China is the largest of Japan's neighbors, and the normalization of relations between Japan and China will be the most important problem ahead for Japanese diplomacy.
Postwar relations between Japan and China have undergone various changes, but their bilateral relations have developed into a trade totaling $900 million and frequent exchanges of personnel. Both countries have a great influence in Asia and also have a great responsibility for the peace, stability and prosperity of Asia. The People's Republic of China has joined the United Nations and now serves on the Security Council as a permanent member, and great changes have occurred in the international situation around China, including U.S. President Nixon's visit to Peking.
It can be nothing but unnatural that, despite this situation, relations between Japan and China have not yet been normalized.
From this standpoint, Japan is determined to approach the normalization of Japan-China relations with a forthright attitude. It has been trying to promote mutual understanding with the People's Republic of China and has repeatedly called for the establishment of stable relations between Japan and China, under the principles of the U.N. Charter which should be respected by both countries as members of the United Nations, on the basis of equality of sovereignty, non-intervention in domestic affairs, peaceful settlement of disputes, non-use of armed force and mutual cooperation for peace, progress and prosperity.
It must of course be frankly recognized that there exist distrust and ill feelings stemming from the unhappy relations between Japan and China in the past, and that there is much to be said on both sides. The most important thing is for the Governments of Japan and China to hold direct talks and to express their opinions and points of view in order to dispel the distrust and ill feelings and to settle the various problems existing between Japan and China.
It is hoped that the People's Republic of China will understand Japan's position and respond in a positive manner to its call for opening government-to-government negotiations.
3. Relations with the Soviet Union
The progress of good neighborly relations between Japan and the Soviet Union will not only be beneficial to Japan and the Soviet Union alone but also contribute to the peace and stability of the Far East. It is desirable for Japan to continue to promote bilateral relations in various fields such as trade, economic relations, culture, science and technology in order to promote mutual interests.
In view of the fact that the Soviet Union holds a position of great importance in international politics and, especially as Japan's neighbor, exercises an influence in Asia, Japan must, more than ever before, exchange opinions with the Soviet Union over the entire field of international relations in order to understand each other. By so doing, Japan will be able to meet the requirements of its diplomacy in the multipolar age.
However, the northern territorial issue still remains unsettled between Japan and the Soviet Union, and this constitutes an obstacle to the truly stable development of bilateral relations. On the occasion of Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko's visit to Japan in January 1972, agreement was reached between the two countries to open within this year negotiations for the conclusion of a peace treaty. It is Japan's policy to continue to expand contacts between the two countries in all fields, to deepen mutual understanding as well as to realize through these negotiations the reversion of the Habomai Islands, Shikotan Island, Kunashiri Island and Etorofu Island, which are inherent parts of Japanese territory.
4. Relations with Western Europe
In Europe, the economic power of the West European countries has increased and, as a result of this and also of the near completion of the expansion of the European Communities, their voice in international affairs is growing. Moreover, various efforts have been made to ease tensions between the East and the West, and these are gradually producing results. In these circumstances, the importance of the West European countries in the international arena has been steadily rising in recent years. It is necessary for Japan to take this situation in Western Europe into consideration and promote with the West European countries closer relations than ever before and, at the same time, to bolster and promote the traditionally friendly relations that exist between Japan and Europe. The visit to various West European countries by Their Imperial Majesties the Emperor and the Empress in the autumn of 1971 is recognized to have not only been an epochal event in the history of Japan but to have also achieved outstanding results from the standpoint of promoting relations between Japan and Europe. Both Japan and Western Europe share the same political ideals of democracy and liberalism and economically are in a similar position as advanced countries, and it is believed that there is much room for maintaining and promoting their relations of cooperation.
5. Relations with Asian countries
Needless to say, Japan is a member of Asia, and the peace and stability of Asia have a great bearing on the security and prosperity of Japan. Regrettably, however, intense tensions continue to persist in Asia and, especially in the Indochina Peninsula, the war still continues instead of ending, and moves toward peace vacillate back and forth.
Most Asian countries are developing countries and their greatest problem is the conquest of poverty. However, they have still been unable to achieve adequate results mainly for the lack of capital and technology.
Japan, as an Asian nation, has given deep thought to the situation in these countries and made every effort to help improve the situation. Japan intends to increase its aid further to these countries. For this purpose, Japan has endeavored, more than anything else, to ease general tensions in this area in cooperation with other countries and, at the same time, has taken measures to help stabilize the livelihood of these nations and consolidate the foundation of their economic development.
What is conspicuous of late in Asia is a growing trend toward the promotion of regional cooperation among neighboring countries and other countries concerned and also toward solving common problems through mutual cooperation. The members of ASEAN, in particular, composed of the five countries of the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, are showing a tendency to cooperate not only in the economic, social and scientific fields but also in the political field as much as possible, as reflected in the declaration on the neutralization of Southeast Asia in November 1971. Japan attaches great importance to the moves of these countries as a manifestation of their efforts to strengthen their stand of independence and self-reliance amid the rapidly changing situation in the world, and is resolved to continue to contribute to their sound development.
For the peace and development of Asia, it is also important to obtain the cooperation of those countries concerned that are located outside the area. Especially such Oceanian countries as Australia and New Zealand have come to take a deeper interest in Asia, and the prospect for greater cooperation between these two countries and the rest of Asia is growing, The Oceanian countries are indispensable suppliers of natural resources to Japan, and Japan is in a position in which it should promote closer relations with them in the common search for the peace and development of Asia.
6. Relations with Near and Middle East countries
Despite the lapse of nearly five years since the Middle East War of 1967, tensions in the area still remain and efforts toward a peaceful settlement have not yet produced any concrete result. Japan hopes that a just and lasting peace will be established in this area as soon as possible based on the U.N. Security Council resolution of November 1967, and is sparing no efforts in cooperating through the United Nations and by other means to achieve that end. The Near and Middle East area holds important meaning to Japan as a source of supply of petroleum, and the political stability and economic development of this area is a matter of great concern. From this standpoint, the Government intends to maintain and promote friendly relations with the countries in this area through such measures as more active economic and technical cooperation, and to secure the supply of petroleum resources while contributing to the stability and development of this area.
7. Relations with Central and South America and African countries
It is noted that moves to seek economic self-reliance, through the promotion of regional cooperation, have been growing in Central and South America and Africa, and rising nationalism is also a conspicuous trend. These areas have an important meaning for Japan from the standpoint of securing natural resources, and, therefore, Japan intends to try to promote closer relations with them in the field of economic and technical cooperation and to contribute positively toward their development to the greatest extent possible.