James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies
Combating the spread of weapons of mass destruction with training & analysis

Forget Elvis, Japan must get its act together

By Masako Toki

An analysis for Asia Times Online.
July 4, 2006 © Masako Toki. All rights reserved.

The personal relationship between the heads of two states usually reflects the relationship between the two nations. The "friendship" between Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and US President George W Bush sparked a pro-America stance unprecedented in the post Cold War period. Koizumi's final meeting with Bush could be perceived as the culmination of the Japan-US alliance.

Koizumi's last visit to his good friend in the United States surely will be remembered in the annals of US-Japan relations. However, whether this visit was a successful diplomatic stunt by Koizumi remains to be seen. While Koizumi received courteous applause for his imitation of the late rock star Elvis Presley at Graceland and his concluding statement at the press conference thanking the American people for "Love Me Tender", not a few of those who watched it must have taken it as nothing but a clumsy antic by a politician who used to be rock 'n' roll buff.

It is true that Koizumi is the most successful Japanese prime minister in terms of strengthening security ties with the United States. During his tenure, Tokyo decided to deploy missile defense systems in cooperation with the US. Japan has also become more active in the field of counter-proliferation efforts, including active participation in the Proliferation Security Initiative rather than making more efforts through multilateral arms-control regimes.

Perhaps the most controversial among all the Koizumi government's pro-US policies was the deployment of its troops in Iraq in the face of Japan's long-standing pacifist principles. All these policies fueled debates over their constitutional propriety. It seems that Japan took the opportunity afforded by September 11, 2001, to unleash a pent-up desire to demonstrate the country's leadership through military measures.

At the US press conference, when both leaders were asked about how to deal with a possible North Korean missile launch, Bush emphasized the value of missile defenses as a last line of defense. The cooperation in missile defenses has been accelerated recently despite its controversy. In fact, to establish the missile-defense system, Japan decided to modify its decades-old Three Principles on Arms Exports, which ban Japan from exporting arms to anyone.

As a consequence of such pro-US diplomacy during Koizumi's five-year term, Japan's image as a pacifistic country has been declining. While Koizumi has succeeded in enhancing military cooperation with the United States, he has been continuously censured for Japan's deteriorating relationships with its neighbors. The idea of Japan's further militarization is not welcomed by neighboring countries.

Moreover, Koizumi's obstinate visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, which is dedicated to Japan's fallen soldiers, including about a thousand convicted war criminals, directly harm its relationship with China and South Korea. Japan's acrimonious relationship with these two countries tangibly weakens its leadership in the region and destabilizes not only the country's security but also regional security.

Bush applauded Koizumi's courage in sending troops to Iraq. He sentimentally described the complete about-turn in the Japan-US relationship since World War II. In modern history, the strong ties between the US and Japan can be considered a miracle, given the tragic antebellum relationship.

However, what about Japan's relationships with its neighbors? While it seems that the relationship between Japan and US has changed completely compared with 60 years ago, Japan still has many unresolved issues stemming from World War II with China and Korea.

If Japan truly wants to be a leader in the region and the world, it is essential for it to settle historical disagreements with these countries and improve relationships. The US should be courageous enough to admonish Japan on these issues.

The Japan-US alliance and the stability in the relationship between the two countries are the most important issues in regional security. But they are not the only ones. A more amicable relationship with China and South Korea also enhances both regional and global security. With his term of office approaching an end, Koizumi needs to be truly wise and courageous enough to act for the sake of Japanese and regional security.