At America’s Request: Let’s Unify Japan, Korea and the US

Published in Asahi Shimbun
(Japan) on 17 February 2014
by Editorial (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Courtney Coppernoll. Edited by Laurence Bouvard.
As the Obama administration previously announced, it has shifted its political focus from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. However, there's a challenge facing this “Asia-centered” shift; that is our failure to predict how heavily the enmity between our allies would weigh on us.

There is ongoing bitterness and antagonism between the governments of Japan and Korea, which is driving the U.S. government between a rock and a hard place.

This month, Secretary of State John Kerry was visited in the U.S. by Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida. Following that conference, Secretary Kerry visited Korea, where he informed them of President Obama's plans to visit Japan and Korea in April.

The president is currently preparing to play the role of mediator. However, before he's able to proceed, it will be vital to repair the relationships between the parties involved. Secretary Kerry has been chosen to fulfill that role.

One might say that receiving mediation from the U.S. is a little bizarre. Do the Japanese and Korean governments really intend to ask the U.S. for help even with our own regional relationships? We should be attempting to solve our problems ourselves, working together to let go of anger and seek compromise.

All around us, tensions are like hotly burning coals growing in intensity. How are we going to address China's military expansion and its increasing power and influence? How will we urge North Korea to abandon nuclear weapons?

Even with such pressing matters before us, Japan and Korea refuse to come together, adding to the U.S. government's frustration.

With regard to President Obama's visit to the region, Japan and Korea acted like rivals in love. As a state guest, Japan hoped Obama would stay longer, while Korea was fine with even a quick visit. It was like two quarreling brothers playing tug-of-war, but the U.S. government responded with relatively fair treatment.

The current situation in North Korea, where the country's young leader has executed his own officials, is uncertain. At such a time, it makes sense for President Obama to visit Korea. Japan should not be making a fuss over rules of etiquette like how to receive a state guest. Rather than worrying about whether or not the U.S. is neglecting the Abe administration, everyone should be focusing their energy on creating a detailed strategy for regional diplomacy.

Having approved the right to exercise collective defense, we should be hearing celebratory cries about strengthening our alliance with the U.S. Instead, due to the prime minister's visit to Yasukuni Shrine, this alliance has been shaken; the U.S. has been left wondering about Abe's true intentions.

On the other hand, the Korean government is also stubbornly maintaining its position. At a press conference with Secretary Kerry, Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Yun Byung-se expressed an opinion to the effect that responsibility for improving the current situation rested solely with Japan. Making a one-sided comment pointing out the other party's faults hardly demonstrates wisdom.

The security guarantee between Japan and Korea is stitched together under the umbrella of the U.S., but Japan and Korea must each make an effort in order to preserve the strength of that framework.

An alliance between Japan, Korea and the U.S. does not only concern these three countries. Such an alliance is indispensable to the stability of the entire East Asia region. The Japanese and Korean governments must, together, remember the weight of their responsibilities.


今世紀の歴史はアジア太平洋を主舞台に描かれる。

 オバマ米政権はかねてそう宣言し、外交の軸足を大西洋から太平洋へ移すと唱えてきた。

 だが、その「アジア重視」路線の難題として、自らの同盟国間の反目が重くのしかかるとは想定できなかっただろう。

 日本と韓国の両政府の間に続く不毛な対立は、米政府を板挟みの立場に追い込んでいる。

 ケリー国務長官は今月、訪米した岸田外相と会談したのちに訪韓し、オバマ大統領の4月の日韓訪問予定を伝えた。

 大統領は仲介役を担う用意はある。だが、その前に当事者同士で関係を修復するのが筋だ。ケリー氏はそう呼びかけた。

 米国からの異例の和解勧告といえる。日韓両政府はこのまま自らの近隣関係まで米国頼みにするつもりなのか。互いに頭を冷やし、自助努力で歩み寄りを図るべきだ。

 周辺では緊張の火種が増えている。軍拡と勢力拡張を進める中国にどう対処するか。北朝鮮に核の放棄をどう迫るか。

 そんな差し迫った難題が眼前にあるというのに日韓両政府が背を向け合うことに、米政府はいらだちを強めている。

 オバマ氏の来訪についても日韓はさや当てを演じた。国賓として長い滞在を望む日本側と、短時間でも立ち寄らせたい韓国側。駄々をこねる兄弟げんかのような綱引きに、米政府はほぼ平等の扱いで応じた。

 若い指導者が自らの後見役を処刑した北朝鮮の情勢は予断を許さない。この時期の米大統領の訪韓は理にかなう。日本は国賓待遇といった儀礼形式にこだわるべきではあるまい。

 むしろ気にかけるべきは、近隣外交をめぐる緻密(ちみつ)な戦略を描く能力そのものが安倍政権には欠けているのではないかという米国側の懸念だろう。

 集団的自衛権の行使容認で対米同盟を強化するという掛け声とは裏腹に、靖国神社参拝で同盟を揺さぶる安倍首相の真意を米側は測りかねている。

 一方の韓国政府も意固地な姿勢を続けている。ケリー氏との共同会見で尹炳世(ユンビョンセ)外相は、現状を改善する責任は日本側にのみあるかのような見解を示した。一方的に相手の非を唱える発言には賢明さが感じられない。

 日韓の安全保障はともに米国の傘のもとにあるが、その枠組みの強度を保つのは、日韓それぞれの外交努力である。

 日米韓の結束は当事国のみならず、東アジア全体の安定に欠かせない。日韓両政府とも、その重い責任を自覚すべきだ。
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