A Draft Blows in the Space between the US and Japan: The Urgent Need to Uproot Seeds of Mistrust

Regarding diplomacy, if heads of state lack a certain depth of trust in one another — or if they fail to give sufficient consideration to their actions, so as not to damage the reputation of their allies — then a close relationship between them cannot be maintained.

That’s probably the reason that the relationship between the U.S. and Japan, allied nations, stands on shaky ground. And yet, there are times when — based on its relationship with China and the Republic of Korea (South Korea), first and foremost, but also upon the generally opaque state of affairs in Northeast Asia — Japan has to make an appeal to the stability of its relationship with the U.S.

The main reason for this shakiness is the words and actions of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and how they pertain to his understanding of history. Among other things, the effect of the prime minister’s visit to the Yasukuni Shrine at the end of last year was considerable; shortly afterward, the U.S. government released a statement saying it is “disappointed.”

It is rather the exception for the U.S. to provide clear, frank advice to its largest ally in Asia, and one instance of that exception has been made clear. In a phone call that occurred two weeks prior to the shrine visit, Vice President Joe Biden urged restraint based on the groundwork that he had laid in China and South Korea, and repeatedly told the prime minister that he “should not go.”*

Prime Minister Abe, taking the standpoint of it being “a question of the heart,” declined the vice president, saying “I will decide by myself whether I will go.” With that, the prime minister set off for his visit.

Of course, there’s no reason to be bound by, and dutifully follow, the wishes of other nations. That said, it’s easy to imagine how pushing the issue by visiting the shrine will invite backlash from China and South Korea, and how it will further diminish the prospect of talks with leaders of both countries that could lead to improved relations.

The reality is that the region’s atmosphere has deteriorated. Government officials have taken pains to improve the environment and took steps toward implementing summits, but their efforts have amounted to nothing.

Actions that prioritize one’s personal beliefs over diplomatic considerations are bound to invite doubt, insofar as they are the decision of the country’s top official. By acting against the “national interest” that he so strongly fixates on, Prime Minister Abe will not be able to sustain his sense of consistency.

In regard to being “disappointed” with an allied nation, Japan could say the same as well. It is beyond contention that, while on the one hand calling for a deeper Japan-U.S. alliance, the Obama administration is at the same time inclined to stress the importance of its relationship with China. One example of this is the U.S. response to the establishment of a Chinese air defense identification zone, which gave the impression that the U.S. had relented.

There are some inclined to feel that this should not be the case, given the fact that Japan has been striving to fall in line with American wishes, evidenced in activities like the establishment of the state secrets law, preparations to approve the use of collective defense and approval from the governor of Okinawa prefecture to begin reclaiming Henoko in Nago city — required for the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma — not to mention participation in negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which will help support economic development.

What lies at the root of this “mutual distrust,” other than visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, is the gap in awareness regarding historical problems such as the issue of comfort women.

Of course, relations with China and South Korea are points of contention that often arise between the U.S. and Japan. Whenever they become a problem, time and energy is wasted on mending things back up; repeating that cycle is precisely what we should hope to avoid.

Shouldn’t we take problems that can’t be easily solved seriously and, for the time being, employ a strategy of restraint in the use of provocative words and actions? To do so would be to look the disadvantages wrought by our stubbornness squarely in the face.

Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobuo Kishi returned the other day from a trip to the U.S.; Yachi Shotaro, the head of the National Security Council, followed with a trip of his own. Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida will be making a visit on Feb. 7. The purpose of the trip will be to engage Secretary of State John Kerry in conversation.

The U.S. and Japan both must uproot these seeds of mistrust and work quickly to mend their relationship, so that no distance remains between them. This would undoubtedly help ease tensions in Northeast Asia.

*Editor’s Note: This quotation, accurately translated, could not be verified.