1. Cooperation towards peace and stability
Japan and the EU share fundamental values and principles of freedom, democracy, the rule of law, human rights and market economy.
The European people decided to put war behind themselves and construct a society where the concept of military conflict was no longer imaginable. Japan itself renounced resorting to force as a solution of international disputes since 1945.
This determination to renounce the use of force is strongly rooted in the Japanese people. With a view to ensuring peace and stability, Japan works closely with the European Union in all parts of the world.
2. West Balkans, Iran and Central Asia
In more concrete terms, then, how do Japan and the EU cooperate? Here are a few examples.
(1) West Balkans
The European Union is an actor par excellence in West Balkan affairs. It makes great efforts to maintain peace, and foster and re-establish economic and social stability there. Japan contributes to such European efforts by organising and supporting meetings in close collaboration with the EU and by providing technical and financial assistance of more than 1.4 billion dollars to the region thus far. In fact, Japan hosted with Ireland, then holding EU Presidency, and the European Commission, “the Ministerial Conference on Peace Consolidation and Economic Development of the Western Balkans” in Tokyo in 2004.
(2) Iran
Recognising the political and economic importance of Iran, Japan and the EU maintain close consultation with one another to explore solutions to the critical nuclear issue, and sustain world stability in this context.
(3) Central Asia
Central Asia is another region of mutual interest.
On the 6th of June this year, the 2nd Foreign Ministers’ meeting under the “Central Asia plus Japan” initiative was held in Tokyo. It was already two years ago that the first ministerial meeting among Japan and the Central Asia Republics took place in Kazakhstan. This year’s meeting adopted an Action Plan, which includes the strengthening of intra-regional cooperation, for example, in measures against terrorism and narcotics. It is our understanding that the EU is also very keen to foster relations with the Central Asia countries in the future.
As strategic partners sharing common values, interests and concerns, Japan looks forward to working closely with the EU in this part of the world through the strategic dialogue, which will take place in the very near future.
3. East Asia
The fourth example of our cooperation is in East Asia, where my country belongs. All eyes are focused on the economic dynamism of Asian countries such as China, India as well as most of the ASEAN countries. The region, however, is not without some security and political problems and challenges. The Cold War may have ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, but remnants of that period persist at the other end of the Eurasian Continent, most notably on the Korean Peninsula. Equally worrisome are newer threats such as terrorism, rising nationalism, and the growing development gap within and among countries in the region. There is a risk that these negative factors could overshadow the region’s enormous potential, or could even lead to instability in the region.
I will demonstrate two major issues in East Asia, followed by Japan-EU cooperation in the region.
(1) North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, DPRK, or North Korea, is still under the typical, Cold War era, dictatorial communist regime, and is one of the most urgent and delicate concerns in East Asia.
(i) Nuclear issue
There are, among other things, two sub-issues. One is the development of nuclear weapons and missiles capable of carrying them. North Korea’s nuclear test of last week (on October 9th), following its missile launches, which occurred between July 4th and 5th 2006, reminded us acutely of a threat to the security of Japan and other countries.
(Missiles launching)
Against the missile launches, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1695 on July 15th. It condemned the launch of ballistic missiles by North Korea, sending a strong message by the international community. The resolution demanded the ceasing of DPRK’s missile-related programme, the re-establishment of a moratorium on missile launching, a swift return to the Six-Party Talks without precondition, and efforts toward early implementation of the Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks of September 2005. Japan played an active and important role as a member of the Security Council in the process from the drafting to the adoption of the resolution.
In this context, I emphasise the importance of the role being played by the EU, which confirmed its support for Japan’s position on this matter. In Malaysia on July 27th, High Representative Solana expressed at a meeting with Mr. Aso, the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, that the EU thoroughly endorsed Japan’s position in regards to the North Korean matter and that the EU shared Japan’s concerns on the missiles issue.
(Nuclear testing)
Despite repeated warnings by Japan, the EU and the international community, North Korea, regrettably, announced that it had conducted a nuclear test on October 9th. On the same day over the telephone, recognising that the nuclear test by North Korea constitutes a grave threat to the security not only of the region but of the world, including threat of the proliferation of nuclear weapons, Foreign Minister Aso and High Representative Solana confirmed that Japan and the EU would continue to collaborate closely on this matter.
I would also like to mention that High Representative Solana, before the plenary of the European Parliament on October 11th, referred to Prime Minister Abe’s statement that Japan would not respond by developing nuclear weapons. He stated that this “shows great responsibility on the part of the Japanese government, which we should all commend.”
North Korea’s nuclear test runs counter to the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration of 2002, the agreement of the Six-Party Talks on North Korea of September 2005, as well as the UN Security Council Resolution 1695 that I just mentioned. On October 14th, the UN Security Council, chaired by Japan, unanimously adopted Resolution 1718, which enumerates various sanctions, and contains measures to be taken by the members of the UN. Japan intends to make its utmost efforts for the steady implementation of this Resolution, in cooperation with the international community.
(ii) Abductees and Human Rights issue
The second sub-issue is the unresolved problem of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea.
From 1977 to 1983, agents of the North Korean government kidnapped an unknown number of Japanese citizens in Japan and abroad. In September 2002, Kim Jong Il, the leader of North Korea, for the first time and after years of denial, admitted directly to Prime Minister Koizumi that the North Korean authorities had kidnapped Japanese citizens. He apologised and agreed never to abduct foreign nationals again.
To date, of the sixteen identified abductees, only five Japanese have returned home since October 2002. None of the other victims have returned to Japan, and there has been no persuasive explanation from the North Korean authorities about the safety of the remaining 11 abductees.
The Government of Japan repeatedly urges North Korea immediately to allow the survivors to return home and clarify the true facts. The Thai government is also raising the issue on the abduction of its nationals. Some Europeans were also said to be the victims.
It goes without saying that abduction is clearly a violation of fundamental human rights.
Through diplomatic efforts by the EU, Japan and other countries, in December 2005, a resolution on the "Situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" was adopted by a plenary session of the UN General Assembly for the first time. This resolution expressed deep concern regarding the human rights situation in North Korea, including the issue of abduction of foreign nationals. It called on North Korea to cooperate with the UN to improve its human rights situation.
I believe that the seriousness of abduction and human rights issue of North Korea has been shared by the international society as a result of the close cooperation between Japan and the EU.
(2) China
Now, I would like to talk about another significant issue, China.
China's recent economic growth has been the marvel of the world. The Chinese economy now ranks fourth in the world after the US, Japan and Germany. Indeed it is larger than four of the G7 economies.
The Chinese economic dynamism provides opportunities, not only for Japan and the EU, but also for other countries in the world. Certainly, China faces social challenges such as growth gaps between rich and poor, between agriculture and industry, and among different regions, or problems relating to the environment, energy and water. However, it is expected that appropriate measures will sustain China’s growth.
In the area of international politics, as you can judge from the Six-Party Talks, for example, China endeavours to help resolve issues that could impact negatively on itself and the broader region. Japan welcomes this sort of constructive Chinese engagement in the region.
(i) China’s lack of transparency
Yet, one cannot overlook China's growing defence budget. There has been a double-digit growth in China's defence spending for the past 18 successive years without its transparency.
Examining Chinese defence spending in 2005, the National People's Congress last year announced the figure to be 244.7 billion Yuan, approximately 29.5 billion US dollars, a 12.6 percent increase over 2004. The Chinese national defence expenditures announced for 2005 are roughly double those declared in 2000, and triple those from 1997. These figures suggest a swift-paced expansion of military expenditure.
The problem is that transparency is lacking as to how the expanded expenditure is augmenting what capabilities to achieve what military objectives.
Also, in addition to the above published figures, it is said that there is still other military-related spending. This increases the degree of non-transparency.
In order to build confidence among its partners, and to increase the predictability of the East Asian regional environment, it is expected that the Chinese government will implement policies, which are more open and accountable to its people as well as to the outside world. In other words, it is expected that China will become a more responsible and constructive global partner in the region and international community. This will be a key to achieving the ultimate goal of a “stable and prosperous East Asia”.
This view was also confirmed by the leaders of Japan and the EU at the Japan-EU Summit in April this year.
Before moving on to how Japan and the EU are cooperating, let me briefly touch upon the most recent development in Japan-China relations since it has attracted much attention also here in Europe.
As you may have heard in the news, our new Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has just assumed the position on September 29th, and has chosen China as the first country to visit as prime minister.
In China, he met President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Wu Bangguo. In the meetings, the leaders agreed to set in vigorous motion the two wheels of both politics and the economy to take Japan-China relations to a higher level.
I am certain that already existing solid relations in a wide range of areas between Japan and China will be further promoted by the renewed dialogue at the highest political level.
(3) Japan-EU Cooperation in East Asia
On the European side, the EU plays an increasingly important and responsible role for the peace and stability, as well as for the prosperity, within the international community. The political and economic evolution in East Asia is thus a subject of particular interest to the EU.
A strategic paper by the European Commission relating to Asia for 2005-2006 confirms that the basic strategy that guides all EC actions in Asia is set down in the 2001 Commission Communication entitled ‘Europe and Asia: A Strategic Framework for Enhanced Partnerships’. The General Affairs Council then endorsed the priorities proposed in the strategy. One of the 6 objectives identified by the strategy is to “contribute to peace and security in the region and globally, through a broadening of our engagement with the region.”
Examples of such European engagement, to mention a few, are in Ache, Sri Lanka, and the Korean Peninsula.
At the same time, it cannot be denied that, in Europe, there was, until recently, a strong tendency to regard East Asia mainly as an economic market. There was not enough understanding as to the security situation in the region.
Under such circumstances, at the 2005 Japan-EU Summit, the leaders agreed that strategic dialogue between Japan and the EU on security in East Asia should be enhanced. It is worth noting that it coincided with the period when the EU’s possible lifting of its arms embargo against China was becoming a major issue in Europe. Japan has been conveying the message to the EU that in view of the security situation in Asia, the lifting of embargo should not take place.
Four months later, in September 2005, the first Japan-EU Dialogue on the East Asian Security Environment was held in Brussels.
Through the dialogues, the EU has come to better understand the security situation in East Asia.
As I mentioned earlier, at this year’s Japan-EU Summit, the leaders again endorsed enhancing and continuing the dialogue. The second Dialogue was just convened in June 2006 to the satisfaction of both sides. It may not be a surprise to you that Japan still considers the lifting of the arms embargo against China inappropriate in view of the situation in the region, which I have just explained.
