Multimedia Mania/abacus-multimedia-mania.iso/dp/0036/00362.txt

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$Unique_ID{bob00362}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Japan
Diplomacy}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{International Society for Educational Information, Inc.}
$Affiliation{Embassy of Japan, Washington DC}
$Subject{japan
security
international
peace
world
japan's
states
united
defense
policy}
$Date{1989}
$Log{}
Title:       Japan
Book:        The Japan of Today
Author:      International Society for Educational Information, Inc.
Affiliation: Embassy of Japan, Washington DC
Date:        1989

Diplomacy

Foreign relations

     Japan's fundamental foreign policy stance is to contribute to world peace
and prosperity and at the same time to maintain its own security and
well-being in a manner consistent with its position as a member of the free
world and as a country of the Asia-Pacific region.

Diplomacy as a member of the free and democratic world

     The peace and prosperity that Japan enjoys today would not have been
possible without its postwar decision to act in cooperation and solidarity
with other countries sharing the values of freedom and democracy. Awareness of
its position as a member of the free world is basic to Japan's foreign policy.

     Among its relations with other democratic countries, Japan's ties with
the United States, supported by bilateral security arrangements, form the
cornerstone of its foreign policy. Japan-U.S. relations have strengthened
steadily throughout the postwar period, and despite recent economic friction
of unprecedented severity the two countries are cooperating closely to solve
their problems, recognizing that economic issues must not be allowed to impair
the overall health of their relationship. The ties between the two countries
have developed beyond a bilateral framework to become a partnership based on
global perspectives. Japan must seek to maintain and strengthen its
cooperative relations with the United States and at the same time contribute
to the international community at large.

     With regard to relations between Japan and Western Europe, Japan, which
is working to contribute to world peace and prosperity in a way that is
commensurate with its capabilities and situation, and the West European
countries, which are displaying new vigor as a result of the upcoming
unificaton of the European market in 1992 and the development of political
cooperation, must work together with the United States to achieve solidarity
and cooperation in the West. Relations between Japan and Western Europe are
not as close as those between Japan and the United states or between the
United States and Western Europe however, and the need for strong, balanced
trilateral relations makes it imperative for Japan to place priority on
strengthening its relations with Europe.

Diplomacy as an Asia-Pacific nation

     Dynamic economic growth is taking place in the Asia-Pacific region today,
especially in the newly industrialized economies (NIEs), which are playing an
increasingly important role in the world economy.

     Japan has extremely close relations with the rest of the Asia-Pacific
region, not only in terms of geographic proximity but also economically
culturally, and historically. Japan's relations with the Asia-Pacific region
have become especially close and wide-ranging in recent years as more Japanese
companies have located facilities overseas, as the NIEs and the member states
of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have sharply stepped up
their exports of manufactured goods to Japan and as the exchange of people
between Japan and the Asia-Pacific region has increased. Under these
circumstances, it is imperative that Japan as an economically powerful force,
make an active contribution to stability so as to enable this region to
achieve further development and enhanced stability.

Negotiations for a peace treaty with the Soviet Union

     Japan earnestly wishes to develop truly friendly relations with its
northern neighbor, the Soviet Union. The most serious obstacle to this is the
issue of the return to Japan of the northern territories, a group of islands
just off the northern coast of Hokkaido. These islands-the Habomais,
Shikotan, Kunashiri, and Etorofu-have never belonged to any country other
than Japan, but they have been occupied by the Soviet Union since the end of
World War II. In the ongoing negotiations for a peace treaty Japan has
consistently and strongly urged the Soviet Union to settle this issue and
thereby conclude a peace treaty to build stable relations between the two
countries based on genuine mutual trust.

Tasks for Japanese foreign policy

     The range of foreign policy issues that Japan must deal with in seeking
to play an active role in the maintenance and development of the international
order is wide-ranging, including the fundamental question of ensuring its own
peace and prosperity.

     There is also an increasing need for Japan, taking new initiatives
commensurate with its enhanced standing within the international community, to
strengthen its cooperation in the maintenance of international peace, to
expand and enhance its official development assistance, and to do more in
terms of international cultural exchange. These three areas-cooperation for
world peace, the expansion of ODA, and the promotion of international cultural
exchange-represent the three pillars of the International Cooperation
Initiative proposed by Prime Minister Takeshita Noboru in 1988 and now being
advanced by Japan.

     Ensuring Japan's security: The exercise of all due vigilance in the
cause of security is vital for maintaining a country's independence and
prosperity and for protecting the lives and property of its people. Security
must be the basis of any country's foreign policy. (See following section
on national security.)

     Contributing to the sound development of the world economy: With Japan's
gross national product now accounting for well over 10% of the world total,
Japan has become more aware of its responsibilities and roles regarding the
sound development of the world economy and has worked vigorously to shift its
economic structure from dependence on exports to reliance on domestic demand
and to bring its current account surplus down. These efforts to stimulate
domestic demand, further open Japanese markets, and promote imports have,
along with the yen's appreciation and the dollar's devaluation, contributed to
reducing the Japan-U.S. trade imbalance and to expanding Japan's imports of
manufactured goods from the Asian NIEs, the ASEAN countries, and other trading
partners. Japan must continue these efforts to contribute to the sound
development of the world economy.

     The free and multilateral trading system is the basis of economic
development not only in Japan but throughout the world, and its maintenance
and strengthening are vital for the growth of the world economy. Japan
therefore must make a vigorous contribution to the success of multi-lateral
trade negotiations carried out under the aegis of the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade.

     Recent scientific and technological advances have come to exert a major
influence on the world in many ways, and various science- and
technology-related problems have arisen, including the flow of Western
advanced technology to the East and the protection of intellectual property
rights. Thus Japan, as a key member of the Western community and an
Asia-Pacific nation, must continue to promote basic research vigorously and to
play an active role in finding solutions to these problems.

     International Cooperation Initiative: In seeking to contribute to the
international community, Japan must be more active in various aspects of
international cooperation for peace and prosperity. Realizing this, Japan has
formulated and is  implementing the International Cooperation Initiative built
around the three pillars of cooperating for peace, expanding official
development assistance, and promoting international cultural exchange.

     (a) Cooperation for peace: International peace and prosperity are
prerequisites of Japan's own peace and prosperity. Seeking to cooperate in
the cause of peace, Japan, while making every diplomatic effort to create firm
foundations for achieving peace in regional conflicts and other problem areas,
must also diversify and expand its financial and other forms of cooperation
for peace-keeping activities and must participate positively in peace-keeping
efforts carried out by the United Nations and other international bodies,
including the dispatch of civilian personnel. There is a clear need for Japan
to make a positive and wide-ranging contribution to maintaining and enhancing
world peace, including stepped-up refugee-relief efforts and vigorous
contributions toward reconstruction after the fighting has stopped.

     (b) Expansion of ODA: As a nation committed to peace and as one of the
world's economic leaders, Japan must contribute to reducing the North-South
disparity and thereby enhancing the stability and development of the
international community. Realizing that Japan has an important international
responsibility to expand its ODA for the purposes of contributing to economic
and social development, the stabilization of living standards, and the
enhancement of welfare in the developing countries, Japan implements its ODA
schemes in keeping with the generally accepted ideals of "mutual dependence of
the world" and "humanitarian considerations."

     In line with this, the Japanese Government drew up its fourth medium-term
target for ODA in 1988. Keeping in mind the need to raise the share of Japan's
ODA in the total ODA of the members of the Development Assistance Committee
to a level commensurate with the size of the Japanese economy, Japan has
been working under this fourth medium-term target to raise its total ODA
disbursements in the five years starting in 1988 to more than $50 billion; to
raise the ratio of its ODA to GNP; to expand the grant portion of its aid to
and enhance debt relief for the poorest countries of the world; to expand
technical assistance, including the strengthening of provisions for foreign
students to study in Japan; to promote cooperative through international
organizations; and otherwise to enhance the quality of Japan's ODA.

     (c) Promotion of cultural exchange: The diverse cultures in the
international community should all be seen as the shared heritage of
human-kind, and all peoples everywhere should be able to enjoy universal
values. At the same time, the fostering of respect for cultural diversity
through exchange can lead to an international community that is tolerant of
differing values. Likewise, the promotion of international cultural exchange
will help to make Japanese society more open to the rest of the world.

     Japan has formed broad and intensive relationships with other nations of
the world, but friction between it and other countries often stems from
misunderstanding or inadequate understanding of one another's culture and
social practices. Consequently Japan needs to increase international
communication through the medium of culture to ensure that it is open to the
rest of the world and to respond positively to the growing international
interest in Japan to ensure that it is correctly understood overseas. Along
with these efforts, Japan must contribute to enriching the diverse culture of
the world.

National security

     The establishment of permanent peace, which the Constitution declares
as a high ideal and purpose, is the earnest wish of the Japanese people.
Under its peace Constitution, Japan is striving to develop moderate yet
effective defense capabilities in line with its basic policies of maintaining
an exclusively defensive posture and never becoming such a military power as
might threaten its neighbors.

     As the only country in the world to have suffered from atomic bombing
(atomic bombs were dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945),
Japan firmly upholds the three non-nuclear principles of "not possessing
nuclear weapons, not producing them, and not permitting their introduction
into Japan," as a matter of national policy. The Atomic Energy Law also
prohibits Japan from manufacturing or possessing nuclear weapons. Japan
ratified the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in June 1976
and placed itself under an obligation as a non-nuclear-weapon state not to
produce or acquire any nuclear explosive devices.

     Japan's present security policy consists of three major pillars: to
maintain firmly the close alliance with the United States, based on the
Japan-U.S. Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security; to improve steadily
Japan's own defense capabilities through the upgrading of the Self-Defense
Forces; and to pursue active diplomacy to create a more peaceful and stable
international environment.

Close alliance with the United States

     The first pillar of Japan's security policy is the maintenance of a firm
and credible alliance with the United States based on the Japan-U.S. Security
Treaty. Since 1952 the security arrangements with the United States have
provided Japan with an effective deterrent against external aggression. Under
the Security Treaty the United States is granted the right to use facilities
and areas in Japan, not  only to contribute to Japan's security but also to
maintain peace and security in the Far East. Japan provides about 130
facilities and areas all over the country.

     Japan has been making utmost efforts in the area of sharing the cost of
the stationing of U.S. forces in Japan. In fiscal 1987 Japan contributed about
(Y)316 billion (including estimated rent for national properties) to help
defray the cost for such stationing. This represents an outlay of more than
$46,800 per member of the U.S. services in Japan (at $1=(Y)135). In January
1987 Japan signed an agreement with the United States to increase
substantially Japan's share of labor costs, and in January 1988 Japan decided
to amend the agreement to further increase its share.

     Helped by such "host-nation support," about 50,000 members of the U.S.
services are stationed in Japan, including a marine division and an F-16 air
wing. Japan also provides basic support for the USS Midway, an aircraft
carrier; USS Blue Ridge, the flagship of the Seventh Fleet; and 14 other
U.S. naval vessels.

     These efforts of Japan to ensure the effective functioning of the
Japan-U.S. security arrangements and to increase the credibility of deterrence
contribute not only to the peace and security of Japan and the Far East but in
turn to the peace and security of the Asia-Pacific region.

     Technology exchange with the United States is another area of Japan's
efforts. In 1983 Japan opened the way for the transfer of Japanese military
technologies to the United States as a sole exception to the longstanding
policy of refraining from the transfer of arms and military technologies to
other countries. In September 1986 the Government of Japan decided on the
country's participation in the U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative research
project, and in July 1987 an agreement was concluded to facilitate Japan's
participation.

     There is an increasing degree of firm public support in Japan for these
security ties with the United States, and the U.S. defense commitment to Japan
is generally gaining increasing support from the American public.

Maintaining Japan's defense capability

     The Japan-U.S. security ties today are firmly accepted by public opinion
on both sides of the Pacific.

Improvement of Japan's own defense capabilities

     The second pillar of Japan's security policy is the steady improvement in
its own defense capabilities. Just as in the case of the security
arrangements with the United States, it also took many years in postwar Japan
for the public at large to recognize and accept the legitimacy as well as the
indispensability of the Self-Defense Forces. This was due to a tendency among
the public to relate any military organization with Japan's pre-war
militarism, which the nation had forsworn.

     The evolution of public opinion on security issues has eventually led to
the public acceptance of the need to maintain the SDF. One can observe from a
series of polls taken by the Government a steady upward trend in the positive
public attitude toward the SDF. Today the main issue regarding the SDF is no
longer whether they should be maintained at all, but to what extent their
capabilities should be upgraded within the constitutional and other restraints
on the country's basic defense posture, including Article 9 of the
Constitution.

     Improvements in defense capabilities are implemented in accordance with
the National Defense Program Outline. The outline sets forth both the
conceptual framework for Japan's defense posture in peacetime as well as the
actual force level of the SDF deemed consistent with such a posture.

     Presently the combined strength of the SDF is about 244,000. The Ground
Self-Defense Force is organized into five armies and 13 divisions and has
about 1,150 tanks; the Maritime Self-Defense Force has 161 vessels of various
types and 171 operational aircraft; and the Air Self-Defense Force is equipped
with 294 fighters as well as Nike missiles.

     In September 1985 the Government formulated a medium-term defense program
covering fiscal 1986-90, with a view to attaining the force level of the above
outline by the end of the period. This program is highly significant
in that, for the first time, the Government set a target date by which the
goal of the outline should be reached. Major items of procurement required
under the program consist of some 240 tanks and 270 pieces of artillery for
the GSDF, 35 vessels and 50 P-3C antisubmarine patrol aircraft for the MSDF,
and over 60 F-15 interceptors as well as new surface-to-air guided missile
systems for the ASDF. The total defense expenditure during the five-year
period is estimated at approximately (Y)18.4 trillion. The defense-related
expenditure for fiscal 1987 totaled (Y)3,517.4 billion, a 5.2% increase over
the previous year.

Active diplomacy

     The third pillar of Japan's security policy is the pursuit of an active
diplomacy for the strengthening of world peace and security. No security
policy can adequately meet the needs of a country, whether big or small,
without some element of diplomacy to improve its own security environment. A
security policy with exclusive attention to its military aspects fails to
explore whatever useful contribution the country may be able to make to
international peace. And this is perhaps particularly true for Japan, a
country which is firmly committed to maintaining a restrained defense posture
exclusively for its own defense. For such a country, the role of diplomacy in
its security policy becomes all the more important. There is also the growing
international expectation that Japan should not remain indifferent to its
political responsibility as a major economic power to play an active role in
peace-building efforts with other like-minded nations. This is the background
against which Japan has been engaged, in recent years, in multidimensional
diplomatic efforts on the important issues of international peace and
security.