Japan’s foreign policy

Lecturer: Dr. Masayo Goto1

Major issuesz Two main pillars of Japan’s foreign policyz Japan’s international contribution– Economic aid (ODA)– PKO activities– Humanitarian aid (SDF dispatch to Iraq)z Japan’s quest for UNSC permanentmembershipz Free Trade Agreements2

Two main pillars of Japan’s foreign policyz UN centrism (UN centered diplomacy)z US-Japan alliance3Japan’s international contribution(Economic aid)4

Japan’s Official DevelopmentAssistance (ODA)z Japan has provided assistance to a total of185 countries and regions
z Japan’s ODA was ranked as the world‘s top

ODA provider from 1991 to 2000 (One-fifthof the world total ODA) → High
contrubution of ODA
5ODA (Grant aid)
● Socioeconomic Infrastructure: Indonesia, Thailand,Vietnam, and Sri Lanka.
● Water: provides water supply to more than 40 million
people throughout the world.
● Public Health: Japan provided polio vaccinations for
600 million children from 1993 to 2001.
● Human Resources Development: 70,000 experts andmore than 25,000 Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers
have been dispatched to 166 countries and regions.
6ODA (Loan aid)z May 10, 2005, Thailand Second Bangkok

International Airport Development Project April 1,2005
z Madagascar Debt Relief

Japan is the largest contributor to internationalorganizations including the Asian Development
Bank (ADB), the Asian Productivity Organization(APO), the United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO), and theAfrican Development Fund (AFDF).
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ODA
Criticism
1.
Japan links ODA to enhancement of its international
economic position
2.

Japan tied its foreign aid program to export
promotion

3.

ODA is more in the form of loans (to be repaid)
than grants *ODAbluebook.pdf
Japan’s efforts were dismissed as‘Checkbook diplomacy’
8Japan’s international contribution(United Nations Peace KeepingOperations)9What is PKO
z Peacekeeping operations are one of theways in which the United Nations tries tomaintain international peace and security.
z The main responsibility lies with theSecurity Council.
z If the Security Council recommendations

are not followed by the parties involved, it
can calｌ for action by the international
community ⇒ asking Member States tomake armed forces to settle international
disputes.
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Japan’s PKO and participationz UN Charter does not oblige Japan to contribute

military to PKO
z Japan’s PKO has always been non-military

participation i.e. protection of human life,
election monitoring, humanitarian aid, postconflict economic rehabilitation
1992: UNTAC Cambodia (removal of mines)
1993: Mozambique (50 personnel)
1996: the Golan Heights
1994: Zaire
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Japan’s PKO
Criticism

Japan’s involvement in PKO is linked toJapan’s bid for permanent Security
Council Membership!

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Japan’s InternationalContribution (Humanitarian aid)

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Development in Japan’s foreign policy(humanitarian aid)
It has been influenced by ‘Gaiatsu’ (Foreign Pressure) and theGulf War, 1991
i.e. US pressure → active role and military role for Japan (1990s)
International Peace Cooperation Bill (PKO Bill) – 1992
SDF is allowed to participate in all non-military PKOs,including supervising elections and transporting refugees.
Lessons from the Gulf War, 1991
z Despite massive monetary contribution of USD$13 billion,
Japan experienced severe international criticism and loss offace.
z Engaged mainly in mine sweeping activity

Japan offers money but not blood!
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SDF dispatch to Iraqz Up to 600 Ground Self-Defense Force troops havebeen stationed in Samawah in southern Iraq since
early 2004 to repair schools and roads and provide
clean water and medical aid.
z About 200 Air Self-Defense Force troops

stationed in Kuwait are transporting goods andU.S. military personnel to and from Iraq.
z SDF dispatch to Iraq is likely to be extended

another year
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Japan’s quest for UN permanent
membership

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What is the Security Council ?
Purpose:z Maintenance of international peace and securityz Investigate any dispute or situation that could lead tointernational friction
z Recommend methods for adjusting disputes andterms for settlementz UNSC alone has the power to make decisions which
all Member States are obliged to accept and carry out.
Five UNSC permanent members (P5) with veto rights :US, France, UK, Russia and China – veto power
10 non-permanent members: two-year terms on arotational basis
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UNSC reform
Major issues for the reformz Veto power – Should new Security Members be allowed tohave the veto power or veto power itself should beeliminated?
zExpansion of UNSC membership:
Is their need to expand UNSC permanent membership? If so,
who are qualified?
Possible candidates for the membership (Japan, Germany,India and Brazil) and the opponents– Japan vs. China and South Korea– Germany vs. Italy– India vs. Pakistan– Brazil vs. Mexico
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Is Japan qualified to become the UNSC
permanent member?
z Japan’s

financial contribution to the UN is thesecond largest (19.5%).

z Japan has contributed to the international community

through development aid, i.e. ODA, loanz Enemy clauses in the UN Charter must be deleted(it refers to Japan)
Ultimate restoration of Japan's world prestige
19ADDRESS BY KOIZUMI PRIME MINISTERz For the last sixty years, Japan has determinedly pursued

a course of development as a peace-loving nation,
making a unique and significant contribution to thepeace and prosperity of the world.
z Japan is convinced that Security Council reform is a justcause for the international community - as is thedeletion of the long obsolete "enemy state" clauses
from the UN Charter. In a reformed Council, Japan isready to play a larger role as a permanent member.
(AT THE HIGH - LEVEL PLENARY MEETING OF THE 16th SESSION OF THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UN in 2005)20

What must Japan do in order to win
support from UN member states?
z Win support from P5 nationsz China: Strongly againstz Boost cooperation toward a common goal ofgaining permanent Security Council
membership with other possible candidates (i.e.
India, Germany)z Win support from UN member states → Likelyto win support from most African nations andsome Asian nations ⇒ Economic influence21(ODA)Free Trade Agreements (FTA)
Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA)

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How are FTA and EPA good for Japanz Strengthen Japan's economic powerz Solve political and diplomatic issuesz Help strengthen Japan's position in international

negotiations such as at the WTO
z Help secure and diversify stable imports of foodand other resources for Japan (Abolishes tariffs)
z Better access to economic blocs emerging inEurope, North America, Southeast Asia andSouth America

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Japan’s FTA & EPA
Japan has concluded EPA (with FTA elements) withfour countries:zzzz

Singapore in 2002 (No agriculture)
Mexico in 2005 (This could boost Japan‘s exports by400 billion yen per year. By shifting production toMexico, Japanese firms would be able to ship products
to the US and Canada tariff-free through NAFTA)
Philippines
Malaysia in May 2005 (goods, services, agriculture
and marine products and economic cooperation)24

Japan’s future EPA and FTA
z ASEAN:a framework has been agreed
z South Korea: began negotiation in 2003 hopes toconclude by the end of 2005
z Chile: Japan and Chili decided to launchnegotiations to conclude an EPA
z Canada: signed the Japan-Canada Economic
Framework Document
The 10 members of ASEAN, Japan, China andSouth Korea hope to conclude a free tradeagreement ⇒ East Asian Community (EUversion of Asia)
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East Asian communityz The government approved in late 2004 abasic plan to promote free-trade agreements,prioritizing accords with Asian trading
partners to help build an East Asiancommunityz East Asian Community means to enhance

regional cooperation based on the ASEANplus-three process involving ASEAN states,
Japan, China and South Korea.

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z

Questions
Question 1: Japan is in quest of obtaining a UNSC
permanent membership. Is Japan qualified tobecome a permanent member? What are thepurposes and what does Japan want to achieve?
Will the US and China support Japan’s UNSC
permanent membership?

z

Question 2: Japan has concluded a number ofFTAs in Asia and other countries. What are thepurposes and what does Japan want to achieve?

z

Question 3: Japan has dispatched the SDF to Iraq
for humanitarian aid. Why has Koizumi made sucha decision, what are their activities and how are
their activities evaluated?
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End of lecture(Japan’s foreign policy)

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