[Editorial] Hope for Better Relation with Japan with Japan’s New Prime Minister

Japan’s former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda is expected to become Japan’s new prime minister. It seems almost certain that Fukuda will win the race for chairman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to be held today and be elected as Japan’s new prime minister in a general meeting of the lower house ahead of Secretary General Taro Aso on September 25.

Fukuda has long stressed the importance of maintaining the good relationships with China and Korea. I sincerely hope that Fukuda’s election will help restore the estranged Korea-Japan relationship.

So far, the Korea-Japan relationship has been restrained, in spite of the brisk cultural exchanges characterized by the Korean Wave between two countries. It is hard to deny that Junichiro Koizumi government’s consistent denial of Japanese war crimes and emphasis on having close ties with the U.S., and the Roh Moo-hyun government’s immature responses and insistence on an independent foreign policy, were the main reasons behind the restrained relationship between the two sides.

Letting relations between the countries stand as they are now is not in the interests of either country. For the sake of peace in the East Asia region, the two countries have many things to do together; to settle the framework of the multi-lateral security system through the success of the six-party talks is one of those things.

To make this happen, Japan should play a more positive role in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue. If Japan shows a more flexible attitude in handling the issue of the abduction of its citizens by North Korea, it will be of great help.

I suggest that Japan deal with the matter from the broader prospective view of East Asia. If Japan does so, its neighboring countries will be able to increase their trust of Japan, and that confidence can help prevent the creation of a battle for hegemony between China and Japan, and the U.S. and China.

Fukuda has long emphasized the realization of the East Asia community, upholding the “Fukuda Doctrine” backed by his father, former Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda, who concluded the China-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty in the 1970s. The Fukuda Doctrine embodies the establishment of reliable relationships with Asian countries. The future of Japan and East Asia depends on whether Fukuda sincerely aims to follow through with his father’s intentions.

In this regard, it is encouraging that Fukuda said that he won’t visit the Yasukuni Shrine. Under any circumstances, Japan can’t afford to continue its policy of evading issues regarding its past history. It will not be easy for Japan to revise its pacifist Constitution if Japan doesn’t genuinely reflect on its past war crimes. I hope that Japan will make a fresh start as a new member of the Asian community of nations under the leadership of Fukuda.