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POLITICS: New Japan-US Ties Set to Make or Mar Asian Affairs
By Suvendrini Kakuchi
TOKYO , Nov 27, 2005 (IPS) - Japan-U.S. relations, following President George W. Bush’s whirlwind Asian tour, earlier this month, are set to play a strong role in political manoeuverings in the region, say analysts, many of whom express misgivings over the strengthened bilateral alliance.
"The summit in Kyoto between the two leaders, last week, has set the stage for a strong Japan-U.S. presence in Asia. But this new thrust will not help Japan to improve its strained ties with its Asian neighbours," says Harumi Arima, political analyst and author, well known for his coverage of domestic politics.
Bush, facing growing criticism at home for failing to contain fighting in Iraq after the U.S. invasion of that country, supposedly aimed at promoting global democracy, used the tour to boost his image through voicing support for human rights and his anti-terrorism campaign.
That message was cemented in Kyoto, the first stop of his Asian tour, while at a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Bush said the bilateral relations would help Asian nations to achieve greater freedom and economic prosperity.
Bush went to the extent of saying that that he saw Taiwan (along with Japan) as an example of democracy in East Asia, unmindful of the effect such statements would have on Beijing.
Bush and his entourage seemed oblivious to the rallies and demonstrations in the streets of Kyoto, calling for an end to the occupation of Iraq and for the withdrawal of U.S. bases on Japanese territory rather than strengthen them, as is being planned.
Proceeding to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in Pusan, South Korea, Bush’s message grew louder, saying that a ‘’free Japan has helped to transform the lives of others in the region’’, referring to Japanese investment and aid, jump-starting several Asian economies.
Analysts contend that Koizumi's strong show of support for Bush and vice versa, plays a crucial role for the U.S. to flex its muscles in Asia, where the rising power of China and India is watched warily by both countries.
Bush pushed human rights improvement in China further, during his Beijing visit, but drew a blank, on that score, with his hosts.
"Koizumi is banking on his strong ties with Bush to help improve Japan's sagging relations with its Asian neighbours. I don't think that strategy is going to work out," said Masao Okonogi, a North Korean expert at Keio University.
Japan's past colonisation of South Korea and China continues to plague relations with these countries and recent visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine by Koizumi have escalated the tension.
Experts point out that the ill feeling has not eased after Bush's visit to Asia, despite Koizumi's plans.
Last week, China’s ambassador to Japan Wang Yi, told the press here that Koizumi's visit to the Tokyo war shrine was like "pouring salt into an open wound" and said a Japan-China summit should take place but "political obstacles" must first be overcome.
‘'It is obvious that Koizumi's strategy of leaning heavily towards the U.S. and putting pressure on China to relent, is not the answer. There is a lot of concern among analysts over the way Japan-U.S. relations are going and the resulting tension in this region," explained Okonogi.
Okonogi sees Japan's relations with North Korea also hitting a wall,
following the strengthened lliance, that also involves deeper military ties as Koizumi accepts larger U.S. bases in the country.
Six-party talks to stop the nuclear weapons programme in North Korea is not working well. North Korea slammed the U.N. resolution on Nov. 21, which had expressed concern over a poor human rights record.
Okonogi expresses concern over the new U.S. approach towards Pyongyang, that threatens to terminate discussions on extending a light-water reactor to North Korea in exchange for accepting atomic inspections.
"I believe the answer to ease the growing problems in East Asia is Japan should approach China directly towards working together, rather than depend on a stronger U.S.-Japan platform, which will not be easily accepted by China and other Asian countries that have experienced Japanese past colonisation," said Okonogi.
An immediate consequence to the Koizumi approach is friction developing between China and Japan over a joint-declaration now being drafted for the East Asia summit in Malaysia, mid-December.
Leaders of pro-U.S. countries like Australia, India and New Zealand, are also invited for preparatory meetings, challenging Beijing’s view that the new East Asian community should only include the ASEAN plus Japan, China and South Korea.
The ten-nation ASEAN (Association of South-east Asian Nations) includes Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines and Brunei.
Just how far Japan is now willing to bend over backwards to accommodate the U.S. can be gauged by the fact that Foreign Minister Taro Aso told his visiting Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari, that Japan was ready to waive loans worth 6.1 billion dollars.
The debt waiver is expected to pave the way for Japan, Iraq's largest
creditor, to resume fresh loans to that country by the end of the fiscal year ending April 2006.
Japan will also become one of the few remaining countries to extend support for U.S. troops in Iraq, when Koizumi extends the December deadline for 600 Japanese Self-Defence Forces stationed there, to return home.
The pronounced shift towards the U.S. under Koizumi is watched
helplessly by many Japan experts who have now begun talk of sitting it out till the end of his term.
"Koizumi defends his strategy to align Japan closer to Washington as the best means of protecting national interests. If Japan wants to secure peace and prosperity in Asia, the best approach is to act independently but Koizumi has shown that this is not possible," points out Karel Van Wolfren, a respected Dutch specialist on Japan.
(END)
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