Experts: Japan Becoming More Assertive

Gaining an increasingly strong voice, Japan may voice a dissenting opinion when it feels that the U.S.-Japan alliance is not conducive to its interests, a report by the American CRS stated recently.

The Tokyo Times stated on April 22 that the CRS reported in a paper on U.S.-Japan relations that Japan has been strengthening its level of assertiveness in the diplomatic arena, and projected that while it has coincided with American interests so far, there is an increasing likelihood that “Japan will say ‘no.’ ”

Composed of 19 pages with the title “Japan-US Relations,” the report pointed out four examples in which Japan has expressed its assertiveness.

First, the administration under Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi strengthened its relationship with the U.S.; second, it chose a hard line against China and reduced bilateral aid program while taking a firm stance toward territorial and historical issues; third, it expanded its influence by attempting to gain a permanent seat at the UN Security Council and pursuing Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with Southeast Asian countries; and fourth, Japanese leaders have sought to make Japan a more “normal” country by legitimizing the military’s ability to participate in collective security arrangements.

The report divided the background of this phenomenon into internal and external features of Japan. Domestically, Prime Minister Koizumi has found that departing from the traditional passive diplomacy has played well with politically influential right-of-center, while external features included North Korean nuclear and missile weapons development, coupled with Chinese economic and military threats.

The paper stated, “The Bush administration has encouraged Tokyo’s rising assertiveness, which thus far has tended to dovetail with U.S. interests in the strategic realm.”

But the report cautioned on future U.S.-Japan relations, stating, “It is likely that a more active Japan will be more willing to question U.S. policies on a range of strategic issues where U.S. and Japanese interests do not coincide or where domestic factors push Japanese leaders to avoid being perceived as being too close to the United States.”

The Tokyo Times stated that the report is an important document for the U.S. Congress in determining policies on Japan.

Young-A Soh sya@donga.com