Japan Brief/FPCJ, No. 0965
October 27, 2009


Prime Minister Hatoyama Explains East Asian Community Concept at ASEAN Meetings

Following the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) held in the Thai health resort of Hua Hin on October 23 (attended by representatives of the ten member countries of that organization), two international meetings between ASEAN and its dialogue partners were also held: the ASEAN Plus Three Summit (with Japan, China, and South Korea) on October 24 and the East Asia Summit of 16 countries (those 13 countries plus India, Australia, and New Zealand) on October 25.

In these summits, and also in his meetings with individual ASEAN leaders, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama called for understanding of and support for the East Asian community concept that he is proposing. According to major newspaper reports, the other participating countries expressed support in principle for the idea and stated that they “want to tackle it as a long-term goal” and that the proposal has “reinvigorated discussion of East Asian cooperation” (Mainichi Shimbun, October 25).

The Japan-US Alliance as the Cornerstone of Japan’s Diplomacy and the East Asian Community Concept

While Prime Minister Hatoyama reached agreement with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak at a trilateral summit held in Beijing on October 10 on their continued commitment “to the development of an East Asian community . . . as a long-term goal, and to regional cooperation,” the ASEAN meetings were the first occasion for him to explain the concept directly to the ASEAN countries. Japan’s major newspapers drew attention to the fact that in the series of meetings Prime Minister Hatoyama referred to the possibility of the United States being involved in the community concept.

Regarding Prime Minister Hatoyama’s statement in his talks with ASEAN leaders that “ASEAN plays an important role in Asia,” the Asahi Shimbun (October 25) reported, “He [Prime Minister Hatoyama] indicated his belief that ASEAN, which aims to establish a community covering the fields of politics, security, economy, and others by 2015, should play a central role in the East Asian community concept.” On the other hand, the Asahi interpreted Prime Minister Hatoyama’s remark that “I see the Japan-US alliance as the cornerstone of Japan’s diplomacy” as a clear indication of his intention to call for US involvement in the East Asian community concept. It also suggested that “ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit to Japan next month, Prime Minister Hatoyama was trying to erase concern [on the US side] by emphasizing the importance of the United States.”

According to the Mainichi (October 26), the chairman’s statement adopted by the East Asia Summit noted with appreciation “Prime Minister Hatoyama’s new proposal,” describing it as “likely to reinvigorate the discussion toward building an East Asian community based on such principles as openness and transparency” and affirmed the importance of continued discussions within the region. Prime Minister Hatoyama, however, said that discussion of the specific countries that would participate in the community was meaningless at present, so the countries agreed on their understanding that the future image of the community would become clear in the process of repeated discussions. Speaking to the press at Don Muang International Airport on the outskirts of Bangkok during a stop on his return journey to Japan, Prime Minister Hatoyama stressed the positive outcome of the meetings, saying, “We will think in a flexible and multilayered manner. The idea of a community as a long-term vision was well received.”

Newspaper Editorials

On October 26 four of Japan’s five major newspapers carried editorials on the ASEAN-related meetings.

The Yomiuri Shimbun editorial began, “It is important that the concept of an East Asian community, as Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama made clear, should steadfastly maintain the principle of open regional cooperation that does not exclude any particular country.” It continued, “During a trilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in Beijing on October 10, Hatoyama said, ‘It could be said that we’ve depended on the United States too much so far,’ raising suspicions at home and abroad that Japan may shift its foreign policy tack away from the United States toward Asia. Hatoyama’s latest remarks apparently were intended to quickly dispel these suspicions and ease frustration smoldering in the United States toward the Democratic Party of Japan-led administration. We hope he will speak from now on, too, on the premise that the Japan-US alliance is the foundation of Japan’s foreign policy.”

The Asahi editorial stated, “Hatoyama called for in-depth regional discussion that includes countries of differing value systems, working in tandem with ASEAN and with the involvement of the United States.” It went on, “Regional integration is gaining momentum in Europe as well as North and South America. It was inevitable that calls for regional integration would also arise in East Asia. Although the East Asian version has not yet emerged, many share the view that it would take a different route than that of the European Union. There is much greater diversity within East Asia in terms of political systems, religions, and peoples. There is also a greater economic gap. There is much to learn from the experience of ASEAN in creating a regional community in an area that is so diverse.”

The Nikkei editorial commented with concern, “The community is a long-term issue. As acknowledged by the chairman’s statement of the East Asia Summit, it is necessary to advance regional cooperation in a wide range of fields, including the problem of North Korea’s nuclear development, trade, finance, and the environment, and Japan’s leadership is required. China, which seeks to be the leader of Asia, has concluded a free trade agreement with ASEAN ahead of Japan. If the formation of a community makes progress under the leadership of China, which is ruled by the Chinese Communist Party, will we be able to build a setup that respects such ideals as democracy, freedom, human rights, and market values?”

The Sankei Shimbun editorial noted, “In talks with US President Obama in September, Prime Minister Hatoyama did not explain his East Asian community concept, giving rise to concern that the United States was being left out. Cracks are appearing in Japan-US relations over other issues too, such as the problem of the relocation of the US military’s Futenma Air Station in Okinawa. At such a time, in view of Japan’s national interest, we can positively evaluate Prime Minister Hatoyama’s declaration, on the grand stage of Asian diplomacy, calling for US involvement in the East Asian community concept.” It added, “The involvement of the United States is essential also to counter the excessive influence of China in East Asia both economically and militarily. Japanese diplomacy should be fully aware of this reality. Unless the focus is secure, ASEAN and other countries will not sign on to Hatoyama’s concept.”

(Copyright 2009 Foreign Press Center, Japan)

*Japan Brief is an original production of the Foreign Press Center, Japan, and does not represent the views of the Government of Japan or of any other body.


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