Advancing An Asia-Centric Foreign Policy

The Shukan Shincho is not the most reliable of Japanese publications. It is all gossip and innuendo. Thus, it is fun reading.

Its June 18th edition ran an unattributed article titled: "DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama's 'Fraternity' Philosophy Turns Out To Be 'Weak-Kneed' During His Visit to South Korea." Whereas the author is dismissive of DPJ President Hatoyama's views on history and foreign policy, if the reporting is even partly true, this represents significant progress on the history issues for Japan.

Hatayama is willing to settle the apology issues for the war and accept Japan's responsibility. He has a "fraternal" view of Japan's place in Asia. It is in Japan's interest to cement ties to its neighbors through reconciliation and contrition.

Here is a translation of the article:

"There is a trend to glorify colonial occupations in Japan. No one in the Democratic Party of Japan [DPJ] supports the trend." DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama explained his historical perception during talks with President Lee Myung Bak on 5 June, when he visited South Korea.

According to a political reporter, "This visit to South Korea was practically the first task Hatoyama addressed after taking office as DPJ president. Eying the next general election, in which a change of government will very likely happen, he appealed to people both at home and abroad the DPJ's 'Asia-centered' diplomatic policy."

Hatoyama made the following remarks, in reply to President Lee's "demand for an apology"; he expressed "Japan could become a more advanced nation by willingly offering its apology about the past," and "it is necessary for Japanese political leaders to have courage." These remarks remind us of the "prostrate foreign policy" during the times of the Murayama and Hosokawa administrations.

"At the time of the Hosokawa cabinet, Hatoyama served as deputy chief cabinet secretary. He might have confused his fraternity doctrine, which he advocates, with an apologetic diplomacy" (according to the reporter).

There was a "prelude" to what he said in the talks. In an interview with South Korean papers immediately before assuming the DPJ presidency, Hatoyama clearly said, "I assure you that whoever becomes prime minister, no government officials, including myself, will visit the Yasukuni Shrine." Furthermore, when asked about the centenarian anniversary of Japan's annexation of the Korean Peninsula, Hatoyama said, "(Japan) should regret it considering the tremendous damages we inflicted upon the South Koreans." In April, he said in a program on the Internet, "Local suffrage should be granted to permanent foreign residents"; "The islands of Japan do not belong to Japanese only"; and "Japan should be ashamed." Diplomatic analyst Tadae Takubo, being dumbfounded at these remarks, said, "In the world of diplomacy, we stand for our own argument. Where is Hatoyama's ground, Tokyo or South Korea? He did not mention anything about the Japanese government's official opinion. I want to ask him if he really is a Japanese politician." Indeed, he is a poor candidate for prime minister... [ellipsis as published].