hankyoreh

By Jang Jung-soo, Editorial Writer

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Entangled in issues of the past, Japan is becoming isolated in the process of establishing a Northeast Asia regional security framework. Though the path toward North Korean nuclear disarmament was set with the 13 February round of the six-party talks, Japan has continued to harp upon the issue of abductions of its citizens by the North and play but a minor role in the negotiations. Moreover, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s denial of the Japanese government’s role in the conscription and kidnapping of female victims to become so-called "comfort women" during the Japanese occupation has dealt a serious blow to Japan’s moral standing.

Japanese diplomatic isolation is also manifesting itself in relations toward the U.S. Though Japan pushed for the abduction issue to be included as a central issue in the six-party talks, its demands were rejected. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and head of the U.S. delegation to the six-party talks Christopher Hill clearly affirmed that the abduction issue was one to be decided between Japan and North Korea. Yet Japanese frustrations did not end there. Japan asserted that the provision allowing for the deletion of North Korea from the U.S. list of terror-sponsoring states be removed from any agreement until the abduction issue was resolved, but ultimately Japanese efforts again fell short. In turn, there is a strong sense of betrayal among the Japanese regarding American actions. CEO of the Center for a New American Security Kurt Campbell observed that in view of recent developments, Japan no doubt felt as if the Americans had abandoned it.

Japanese diplomatic isolation can be attributed to Prime Minister Abe’s hard-line policies toward the North. Elected on the platform of taking an uncompromising stance with North Korea’s Chairman Kim Jong-il, Prime Minister Abe now has little room to maneuver on the issue. The problem lies in the fact that, drawing his support from the far right elements of Japan, his stance toward Pyongyang has caused unease in East Asia, and that he has in turn used this atmosphere to justify remilitarization and the Japanese possession of nuclear weapons.

According to Korea expert Selig Harrison, the Japanese emphasis on the abduction issue serves to prolong troubled relations with the North and to further justify Japanese remilitarization. Of course, the true reason for Japan’s rearmamament is related to its deep-seated rivalry with China. Yet a full confrontation with China would be politically burdensome, so Japan is using North Korea as a convenient prop in the meantime.

The Japanese hard-line against North Korea is also tinged with a hue of countering American and Chinese moves for leadership in East Asia. The reason is that regardless of who seizes leadership in the short term, Japan ultimately sees hegemony falling into the hands of China. To prevent such an outcome, Japan is striving to bind America, Japan, India, Australia, and Indonesia into a common cooperative military structure. In particular, Japan is aiming to blockade Chinese influence through an alliance with America and India. Yet America is said to be responding negatively to such a proposal, expressing concern toward the potential Chinese reaction to it. Furthermore, with a tradition of non-alliance, it is unclear as to just how much India will agree to such an accord with the Japanese.

The Japanese hard-line strategy is facing a new crisis as it attempts to compensate for the Bush administration’s attempt to solve the North Korean nuclear issue via direct negotiations with the Pyongyang regime. It is said that America has given Japan until parliamentary elections in July to adapt to the new order. After that, the removal of North Korea from the list of terror-supporting states and the inauguration of U.S.-North Korean trade ties will proceed on the American schedule. In the case that Prime Minister Abe maintains an uncompromising stance, a fissure between the U.S. and Japan seems inevitable.

With the framework for a solution to the North Korean nuclear issue nearly at hand thanks to the efforts of the six-party talks, Japan’s policy of isolating itself is unfortunate. If North Korean-Japanese enmity continues to fester as a product of the abduction issue, then the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and the institution of a regional ‘peace regime’ are doomed to failure.

Given the situation, it is time that the South Korean government take the initiative in relations toward its eastern neighbor in order to induce Japan’s proactive participation in stabilizing the security structure of Northeast Asia.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]