"CEAC Commentary" introduces news analyses andopinions in Japan on topics related to regional
cooperation and integration in East Asia, but they do
not represent the views of CEAC as an institution.

February 28, 2011

The Anti-Chinese Posture IlluminatedinJapan-U.S. Summit Meeting
By SUGIURA Masaaki
The incidents in the Senkaku islands and the Northern territories finally clued in Prime
Minister Naoto Kan of his country’s situation. Now, Japan is returning to the normal path of its
security relations with the United States. The Kan-Obama talk held on November 13 on thesidelines of the Yokohama APEC was reminiscent of the Japan-US summit meetings during theCold War era, in that the talk put forward the cooperative stance in their bilateral relations underthe security treaty. The outcome of the Japan-U.S., Japan-China, and Japan-Russia summit
meetings could be summarized in a rough sketch of the diversionary role of Japan-U.S. security
cooperation against China in the North Eastern and East China Sea. In his talk with President
Obama, Prime Minister Kan expressed his gratitude to the U.S. for its support of Japan on boththe Senkaku and Northern territories issues, while mentioning that those issues made many
Japanese realize the importance of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and the U.S. presence inJapan’s soil. In response, President Obama emphasized the necessity to “deepen” Japan-U.S.
security relations and criticized China by stating that “China must act according to international
norms and rules as a responsible member of the international community.” In short, both headsof state agreed on the significance of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and are willing to balanceagainst China in a firm stand.
The Japan-U.S. relationship was half-destroyed by the notorious Hatoyama’s foreign
policies but is currently heading towards reconstruction with the Futenma issue set on the backburner. It is most obvious that the Chinese and Russians hardened their attitude towards
territorial issues under the cloak of the weakening of Japanese-U.S. relations. Kan finallyrealized the harsh reality of the power politics surrounding Japan but at a high price: public
support for the government has gone down to 20%. We should herald the “return” of the UnitedStates to Japan but they did so only because they had no choice but to utilize Japan-US security
relations as a breakwater against rapid expansion of China and its impudence. As was reported
only by ZDF, a German television station, Obama bitterly criticized China over the currency
issue during APEC Yokohama stating that “We will show fortitude against those countries which
try to enrich themselves off others.” There is a lot of disgust of the US against China. AS
pro-U.S. Seiji Maehara became new Foreign Minister, it seems that the US is loosening up
towards the new DPJ government.
China lowered its raised fist at the sight of the reinvigorated Japan-U.S. security
relations. It harshly reacted against Clinton’s remark to the effect that the Senkaku incident fell
under application of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty but soon toned down. This proved that the1Japan-U.S. alliance is pivotal in keeping China at bay. Needless to say, the Kan’s foreign
diplomacy should not adopt a stern posture against China; there should be maintainedcooperation between the two countries in such areas as economy, culture, and sports, to attain in
the long run mutually beneficial strategic ties. Japan can guide China in the right direction byoccasionally flaunting the Japan-U.S. alliance. It seems that China is already worried aboutbecoming alienated in the international arena. Dividing politics and business may be a necessity,
at least for the time being.
Hatoyama’s foreign diplomacy symbolized an optimistic hope that national security grewon trees. Various public opinion researches reveal that the Senkaku incident remineded many
Japanese of the importance of the Japan-U.S. security framework. Obama asked Kan to come tothe United States this coming spring and they plan on voicing a joint statement with respect tothe 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. Disregarding thequestion of whether Kan could stay as prime minister till then, the Futenma issue still remains abone stuck in DPJ’s throat; however, the Chinese and Russians could only be suppressed bymaintaining good Japan-U.S. relations. A joint statement with the U.S. must be issued at any rate,
whoever the prime minister may be by springtime.
(This is the English translation of an article written by Mr. SUGIURA Masaaki, PoliticalCommentator, which originally appeared on the BBS “Hyakka-Somei” of CEAC on
November 15, 2010.)

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