Koizumi diplomacy in Genoa was a complete fiasco -- Akahata editorial, July
23, 2001


The Group of Eight Summit in Genoa ended on July 22 after adopting a
communique.


At the Genoa summit, Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro stood out
as a loyal follower of the United States, whose betrayal of the Kyoto
Protocol on global warming and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)
deepened the division between the U.S. and EU countries.


This came under fire internationally and Koizumi diplomacy in Genoa was
another fiasco after the exacerbation of Japan's relations with other Asian
countries.


Japan no more represents Asia at G8 summit


In Genoa as well as in Bonn, where the Conference of the Parties to the
U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP6) was being held, Japan was
called the Kyoto Protocol's "gravedigger" and described as a more active
"player of the role of villain" than the U.S.'


Japan chaired the 1997 Kyoto Conference to complete the protocol, but has
refused to commit itself to ratifying it, despite the repeated calls from EU
countries for an early ratification, on the grounds that it is trying to
"bridge" the difference between the U.S. and the EU. Thus, Japan is
cooperating with the United States in breaking international rules.


Also, Prime Minister Koizumi did nothing to protest about the U.S.
unilateral attempt to make the CTBT a dead letter and abrogate the
Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty.


Last year, the Okinawa Summit called for "the early entry into force of
the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)," and "preserving and
strengthening the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty." By contrast, the
Genoa communique gives no space to such a firm disarmament statement.


This is in defiance of the efforts of the Japanese people to appeal to
the world for the abolition of nuclear weapons. A prime minister who truly
represents the Japanese people should not be allowed to overlook these
issues.


Prime Minister Koizumi has given the U.S. help in undermining the
international disarmament agreements so far concluded, although he is the
prime minister of the only atom-bombed country.


It is also important to note that Koizumi in Genoa threw away Japan's
role as the "representative of Asia," which Japan had somehow managed to
maintain so far.


Until last year, the Japanese government tried to gather opinions from
other Asian countries in preparation for the summit, but not this year. On
the contrary, it made very little efforts to find a breakthrough in its
worsening relations with China and South Korea in connection with the
history textbook issue and visits by government officials to Yasukuni
Shrine.


In Genoa, Koizumi reiterated his intention to visit Yasukuni Shrine on
August 15. He said he will consider taking steps to mend relations with
China and South Korea after August 15. Presumably, he thinks things can be
settled by accumulating accomplished facts.


It is also scandalous that the prime minister made an international
promise that he will carry out his "reform plans." His "structural reform"
is much criticized because it will certainly bring about massive
bankruptcies and unemployment. It is a major issue in the House of
Councilors election campaign.


The recent Tokyo Stock Exchange plunge anticipates a "Koizum recession"
which will be even worse than the present recession. It is outrageous that
the prime minister is trying to impose on the people his "reform" plans
using outside pressure as an excuse.


Koizumi is trying to shift burdens of "reforms" onto the Japanese people.
He shows no concern for the desire of the world's people to protect the
environment and achieve a world free of nuclear weapons or recognition of
the sufferings the Asian peoples experienced during the Japanese war of
aggression and colonization. All these problems stem from the same rotten
root.


Such a diplomacy will necessarily have serious repercussions in Asia and
the world. It is doomed to fail.


To reorganize diplomacy


No time must be wasted to achieve a major change in Japan's policy. The
Japanese Communist Party is the only political party that has put forward
this major issue which has a significant bearing on the future of Japan.


It is essential for the JCP to advance in this Upper House election in
order to correct Japan's longstanding U.S.-controlled diplomacy and
establish an independent peace diplomacy in line with Article 9 of the
Constitution, and based on remorse for Japan's past war of aggression. (end)