Japan Brief/FPCJ, No. 0971
November 17, 2009


US President Obama Promises Active Engagement in Asia in Tokyo Speech

On November 14 in Tokyo US President Barack Obama delivered his first major speech on US diplomacy toward Asia. In the speech, President Obama described the United States as an “Asia-Pacific nation” and said that since taking office he had been working to “renew American leadership” rooted in a “revitalized alliance between the United States and Japan.” In addition to strengthening bilateral relations with Japan and China, President Obama also declared a policy of aiming to advance the security and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region through “deeper and broader engagement” with multilateral regional organizations, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

Tokyo Speech Attracted Much Attention

President Obama outlined America’s new diplomatic approach in speeches in Prague on April 5 in which he envisioned a “world without nuclear weapons” and in Cairo on June 4 in which he called for the strengthening of relations with the Islamic world based on “mutual interest and mutual respect.” His Tokyo speech also attracted much attention as a sign of US diplomatic policy toward Asia, which is achieving spectacular economic growth. Japan’s three major national newspapers (the Yomiuri Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, and Mainichi Shimbun) reported the president’s speech as the lead articles on the front pages of their November 14 evening editions under the large headlines “US to be actively engaged in Asia” (Yomiuri and Asahi) and “US to strengthen engagement in Asia” (Mainichi).

At the beginning of his speech, President Obama noted that the Japan-US alliance “has endured as a foundation of our security and prosperity” and declared his eagerness for Japan and the United States to work jointly in tackling global issues. He then went on to emphasize that “the fortunes of America and the Asia Pacific have become more closely linked than ever before....we have a stake in the future of this region....”

Summary of Speech

The president’s speech comprehensively embraced the diplomatic policies of the United States toward the Asia-Pacific region. The Asahi (November 14, evening edition) summarized the content as follows:

*Japan will continue to be a central presence in US activities in the Asia-Pacific region.
*The United States aims to pursue “pragmatic cooperation” with China and “does not seek to contain China.”
*The United States “looks forward to engaging with the East Asia Summit more formally.”
*No countries “on Earth know better what these [nuclear] weapons can do” than Japan and the United States, and “together we must seek a future without them.”
*The United States is prepared to offer trade, investment, and security to North Korea, but “full normalization with its neighbors can also only come if Japanese families receive a full accounting of those who have been abducted.”
*As a Pacific nation, the United States will strengthen its leadership in the Asia-Pacific region.

At the end of his speech, President Obama promised, as “America’s first Pacific President,” that the United States “will strengthen and sustain our leadership in this vitally important part of the world.”

National Newspaper Editorials

Japan’s five national newspapers all carried editorials on President Obama’s speech in their November 15 editions.

Emphasizing Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s responsibility, the Yomiuri editorial observed, “In Saturday’s speech, Obama clarified his position on the Japan-US alliance, saying it is the foundation for strengthening US engagement with the whole of Asia. Obama and Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama agreed during their summit talks Friday to deepen and develop the Japan-US alliance. Hatoyama must, however, exercise leadership to improve this key relationship, which appears to be somewhat strained.” Regarding President Obama’s statement that “The United States does not seek to contain China,” the Yomiuri showed much interest in the upcoming US-China talks, saying, “Obama also said Washington will work to further deepen its strategic and economic dialogues with Beijing as well as to improve communication between their militaries. A key focus of attention is on what measures Obama will come up with to strengthen the US relationship with China during meetings with Chinese leaders in Beijing this week.”

The Asahi editorial noted, “In the administration of President George W. Bush, the axis of US diplomacy shifted to the fight against terror, and the US presence in Asia weakened sharply. The view that America’s unilateral power has declined as a result of the Iraq War and the financial crisis is spreading in Asia as well.” But it then welcomed the US return to Asia, stating, “US power is still overwhelmingly strong in the fields of politics and security, and there is much hope of its role as an anchor for peace and democracy.” The Asahi continued, “America’s building of pragmatic cooperative relations with China, including on such issues as the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and measures to counter global warming, is essential for the stability and prosperity of the region.”

The Mainichi editorial remarked, “The president noted that the structure by which Asian countries achieve growth by exporting products to the United States has reached its limit and indicated his opinion that if the United States exports its products to Asia, this will create jobs in America. The emphasis on national interest is clear, and it must be said to be an extremely heavy request for the Asian countries, including Japan.” The Mainichi also cautioned that US engagement in Asia could give rise to new problems. It said, “The trend toward the deepening of relations between the United States and China is inevitable, but it is unacceptable for the future of the region to be decided only by the interests and power struggle of these two countries.”

The Nikkei editorial commented, “The president also emphasized his opposition to protectionism, but the creation of jobs and promotion of exports will probably be a pillar of his administration’s economic management. Many Asian countries, including Japan, which have relied on exports to the United States ever since the end of World War II, will require a new growth strategy.” It suggested, “For Japan, the core of growth strategy is going to be the liberalization of commerce. We would like to steadily advance the work aimed at establishing a free trade area for the whole of APEC. It is also necessary to consider participation in the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP), which some members that have taken the initiative in liberalization, such as Singapore and Chile, have realized.”

The Sankei Shimbun editorial stated that “Japan also must actively respond to the Obama administration’s position on Asian diplomacy and enhance the cohesion of the Japan-US alliance.” But it also expressed some dissatisfaction with President Obama’s speech. Although he promised that the United States did not want to contain China, it said, “He did not refer to the rapid expansion of China’s military strength and its lack of transparency. And while he pointed to the need for human rights and freedom, he did not mention the Tibet problem.”

(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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