Japanese news media are overflowing with reports that Japan will soon be holding summit meetings with South Korea and China. The leaders of both countries had refused to meet with former Japanese prime minister Koizumi Junichiro after he repeatedly worshipped at Yasukuni Shrine. Relatively less coverage is being given to the summit meetings in the Korean media, providing some interesting contrast. If you look back at the way events unfolded and the way differences over worshiping at Yasukuni led to talk in Korean media of a "diplomatic war" between South Korea and Japan, while you sense that while there is something amiss in media coverage in both countries, it is interesting to note that it is only the Japanese media that is now actively reporting on all of the steps Abe has taken in attempting to restore relations in East Asia.
The gist of the news so far is that it is almost certain there will be a meeting between President Roh Moo-hyun and new Japanese prime minister Abe Shinzo on October 9, and that the two countries are in the final stages of working out the details about how to script the encounter.
It will be welcome news in and of itself if Abe's inauguration provides an opportunity to have meetings between the leaders of Korea and Japan and Japan and China. It is truly regrettable that honest dialogue has ceased between the leaders of three of the major nations of Northeast Asia, especially if you think of the issues the region faces right now, such as the North Korean nuclear issue and the need to lessen tensions in the area and create a regional community. You can see that Abe desires to revive Asian diplomacy, which was ruined for Japan under the Koizumi government. This is evidenced in the fact that he has chosen Korea and China as his first official destinations, over Japan's strategic ally, the United States. Also, it is of no small significance that in recent comments before the Diet, Abe recognized that Japan engaged in a war of aggression and ruled other countries as a colonial power, since his earlier approach was to say that historical issues should be left to historians.
If you look at the whole of what he said, however, you get the serious impression that he felt forced to accept the existence of the "Murayama Statement," issued by the Socialist Party prime minister in 1995, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. It was as if Abe was saying he does not want to say how he really feels, but he recognizes that a previous government issued such a statement. Abe continues to avoid expressing a clear position on whether or not he will worship at Yasukuni. Some international media reports are saying that Korea and China are anxious to not fall behind each other in restoring summit-level meetings with Japan, whereas Abe shows no signs of fundamental change. If this is truly the case, it would be ludicrous.
It is dangerous to be meeting first and only asking questions later, when big issues such as the interpretation of history have yet to be worked out. If things get off to the wrong start, it is likely the upcoming summit will be a one-time event. We hope to see our government ready to say what has to be said in the course of preparing for Roh and Abe to meet, instead of just trying to cover over differences.
[Editorial] Abe's first stab at East Asian relations |
