LDP politics without capacity to decide on Japan's foreign policy

Foreign Minister Tanaka Makiko's publicized skepticism about U.S. missile defense and Japan's dependence on the U.S. has upset Liberal Democratic Party executives.

On this, Asai Motofumi, professor at Meiji Gakuin University and former Foreign Ministry China Division head, commented as follows in the June 17 issue of Sunday Akahata:

Foreign Minister Tanaka Makiko's remarks are nothing strange. They represent a common sense approach. To get upset by her remarks or criticize them for damaging Japan-U.S. relations is an eccentric reaction which can't gain understanding of the world's people.

Japan has always tried to be in tune with the U.S. which maintains its military bases throughout the country for more than half a century, as if U.S. occupation has continued since the war's end. If there is a politician who has no doubt about such a situation, this is considered abnormal.

LDP executives' overreaction to Tanaka's remarks shows that LDP politics can't make a sensible decision anymore on Japan's foreign relations.

Bound by the firm conviction that the alliance with the U.S. is what Japan's foreign policy is all about, the LDP hasn't tried to discuss or even think about whether there is any problem with the alliance. To get out of such a prejudiced position must be the most important task in Japan's major reform in the 21st century, but the Koizumi Cabinet has no intention of tackling this.

Foreign Minister Tanaka is fitting into place in the Koizumi Cabinet, which believes that maintaining the alliance with the U.S. must be given priority.

If she really wants to change the present state of Japan-U.S. relations, she should discuss it openly, not in unofficial meetings. Her talking about the matter unofficially will only end up in an endless exchanges about whether she really said something or not.

We need a serious discussion of ways to reformulate Japan's foreign policy. Without this, "reform of Japan's foreign policy" won't be realized. (end)