Could Japan become a beacon for the World to follow?

by Uwe Paschen | November 11, 2009 at 10:01 pm

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By, Uwe Paschen.

Is Japan’s change to be a beacon for a World to follow or merely an Isolated move by one bold Nation defying a super power?

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and his Party (DPJ) won a historic election in August here in Japan, in part because he called for a review of the 2006 Japanese- U.S. Military agreement. Four DPJ members from Okinawa won parliamentary seats with promises of reducing and even eliminating the U.S. troop presence on the island.   Denny Tamaki is one of Okinawa's parliament ministers. He says they won because voters believed they could achieve what the previous administration could not. That includes resolving the issue of U.S. military bases in Okinawa. Tamaki wants Futenma's marines and training facilities off the island altogether. In addition, polls show his constituents overwhelmingly support that view.

In a recent poll by one of Japan's national newspapers, nearly 70 percent of Okinawans said they opposed moving Futenma to another part of the island. The same percentage think Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama should negotiate with the U.S. to move Futenma out of the prefecture and the country altogether. 

Japan may want the U.S. bases out and stop collaborating with U.S. military endeavours. Japan does however not want to escape its international responsibilities. "Our contribution to rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan is great and will increase" as Mr. Fujisaki said, “Yes, We have been number two in the world for reconstructions of Iraq. Number one being United States, of course. In Afghan we are number three.”

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has said he wants the U.S. bases to be moved off Okinawa, even out of Japan altogether

Japan's defence minister Mr. Toshimi Kitazawa said Thursday last, that rules governing the U.S. troop presence on Okinawa Island were “humiliating” For Japan. He further stated that “to build a new relationship that meets the requirements of the new era instead of getting mired in fears of offending them,”

The Minister also announced that Japan will cancel the purchase of U.S. Military Jets, specifically the F-35 and look for suppliers out side the U.S. as he said "our choice is wide open to other options, of non-American-made jets.”

Japan’s taxpayers fell that they should no longer have to neither pay for the U.S. bases nor tolerate the U.S. presence that has been continuously increasing in cost since 1948.

Kiroku Hanai, a former editorial writer for a vernacular newspaper, writes that Japan has to stop paying for the U.S. military and force the U.S. to withdraw and close all U.S. bases on Japanese soil.

"Japan is not ashamed of its Pacifistic constitution and its desire to hold on to it."

"Policing the World is not a task for the U.S. or any other supper power, but rather for a strong U.N." Mr. Hatoyama said. He did also evoke that war was not the anther to our international conflicts.

“My grandfather Ichiro, then Prime Minister, was an advocate of the concept of yu-ai, or "fraternity". This yu-ai is a way of thinking that respects one's own freedom and individual dignity while also respecting the freedom and individual dignity of Others. “

Japan is most definitely moving in a new direction whose signs are clearly laid out by stopping all Military collaboration with the U.S. refueling program and moving the money saved in those military program into Humanitarian aid instead.

Further Japan has send out a clear message to the U.S. and other Western Nations as Japan’s foreign Minister said in October that “Tokyo's new way of contributing to the effort in Afghanistan will be in the form of humanitarian aid, which will include training former Taliban soldiers.”

Japan's new government has vowed to pursue a foreign policy independent of the U.S. and it is clear by now that this is well under way and to be a new reality that may force the U.S. to rethink their own political future that lately seems to look a lot like the former U.S.S.R. once did in 1989.

Ironically, the U.S.S.R. back then was struck by a major economic crisis, a never-ending war in Afghanistan and blessed with a President that received the Nobel peace price.

Japan has send the message, laud and clear, the question remaining, is whether the U.S. will hear it and understand it in time.

So far the U.S. have first mocked the changes in Japan, as the changes seemed to prevail though and proved to be real. The U.S. tried threats as well as fear mongering. Wish started with economic pressures, with Statements such as, 'Japan should align it self with its biggest trading partner', namely the U.S., 'if it wanted to remain part of the top producers', to wish Japan responded with diversification and new trade talks with China and other Asian and European partners.

Then came the North Korean card and fear mongering to wish Japan responded equally elegantly by insisting on continued six party negotiations rather then more confrontation.

The time for supper powers seems to be over and a new era has begun, one whose course is not yet fully shaped. Should we be wise or arrogant will determine this era’s outcome.

Lets hope we find wisdom and move towards peace and co-operation rather them another power struggle for supremacy.

Japan has chosen peace and co-operation as well as the preservation of our Environment over power and dominance.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091110/afghanistan_japan_091009/20091110?hub=World

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120220315&ft=1&f=10

http://www.visionofhumanity.org/news/125/a-return-to-common-sense/

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Amitjha

at 23:50 on November 11th, 2009

Great, but geopolitical equations says something else. First China then Russia and at last the Korean brothers. This is enough for the pentagon to persuade Japan for status quo.

But as you said Japan can be a role model, japan did it before in industrial domain, hope we will see that in geo political domain.

Uwe Paschen

at 01:26 on November 13th, 2009

I do not think that any one should seriously be worried about North Korea, it does share a border with China and China would never let them get out of hand nor try any thing against any one.

The only country that needs to worry is South Korea, for China would most likely not interfere should the two of them start a fight, unless of course the U.S. where to use this as an opportunity, then China would interfere.

The main and only real problem with North Korea is the fact that they are a nuisance and a real enfant terrible. The Kidnapping has to stop and so do the continual treats... however, there is no real danger.

If there was China would already have neutralised them.

Merry Rebel

at 03:53 on November 12th, 2009

"Ironically, the U.S.S.R. back then was struck by a major economic crisis, a never-ending war in Afghanistan and blessed with a President that received the Nobel peace price."

True! Brilliant post, Uwe. But, America doesn't seems to learn much from history lessons... what can i say... after all, it's one of the biggest lessons of history yet unsung, unheard about and uncared for... as in the words of Aldous Huxley, "That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history."...

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 04:26 on November 12th, 2009

Thanks for this Uwe:). This new path apparently taken by Japan gives food for thought..

Uwe Paschen

at 06:37 on November 15th, 2009

Here is Some thing to think about and to remember.http://www.berlintwitterwal... #fotw

YankeeJim

at 04:18 on November 12th, 2009

The US should take Japan up on the offer and withdraw military support for the nation unless they want a bill for the assistance. If Japan had to pay for its national defense post WWII, they would not be a competititve economy.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 04:28 on November 12th, 2009

The Bases in Okinawa have a large impact on the local regions economy as well. I know they certainly did in Germany and still do.

Uwe Paschen

at 05:55 on November 12th, 2009

To a degree yes ACP, however as the US bases closed in Frankfurt and Heidelberg it was a some what harder for some, for the first six month, but the money saved allowed new projects and new jobs, today, no one in those areas is sorry any longer that they left. Same for the Soviets leaving Poland or Hungary and East Germany.

I have yet to meet one that would like either to be back.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 08:16 on November 12th, 2009

There are still major resupply bases in the Mannheim area, only 7km from Heidelberg. So I.m sure some of those jobs were shifted. I don.t know what happened around Frankfurt. The Airbase obviously is still there. Landshut and Ramstein are also still in place.

Uwe Paschen

at 19:19 on November 12th, 2009

Frankfurt/ Eschborn was closed and Wiesbaden was closed. I was working in the research laboratory in Wiesbaden for a year and the people there where happy as the base closed.

Uwe Paschen

at 06:46 on November 13th, 2009

YankeeJim, Did you know that it is Japan's Tax payer that pays for the U.S. Bases and personnel here and not the U.S. taxpayer as you may believe?

Further, for any move of the US military, the cost of such has to be paid for by Japan.

Meaning if the US would have to leave Japan, then, suddenly the US tax payer would have a much higher bill to take care of and would no longer be able to afford such a large army either.

BTW, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Germany, Turkey and Italy all are paying the US personnel and cost of operations in their country and many would be more then happy to have them leave and save a lot of money.

J2B (not verified)

at 06:26 on November 12th, 2009

Japan will reassure the United States that their alliance is in good shape, Tokyo said on Thursday, as a feud over a Marine base strains relations ahead of a visit by President Barack Obama.Japan's new government has pledged to steer a diplomatic course more independent of its key ally, raising worries about the alliance which is central to security arrangements in a region home to a rising China and an unpredictable North Korea.But Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said he wanted to allay such concerns in talks on Friday with Obama, who will make his first visit to Japan as president."There are many people (in the United States) who have been supportive of our new government, while there are those who have been worried about the change," Hatoyama told reporters."One big purpose of the Japan-U.S. summit is to tell those who are concerned that there is nothing to be worried about, that things are all right."www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/11/12/us/politics/politics-us-obama-japan.html

Uwe Paschen

at 06:37 on November 12th, 2009

I am well aware that you have been a strong supporter of U.S. Politics lately L2B, wish is fine.

The article you mentioned here is not as positive as you are in your comment though and some what more balanced and pragmatic.

("But Hatoyama said before the August election that swept his Democratic Party to power that the base should be moved off the island, reluctant host to more than half the U.S. forces in Japan.

No breakthroughs are expected on the issue during Obama's visit, although Hatoyama said on Thursday he would tell the U.S. leader that he wants to resolve the issue soon.

The two sides will instead likely stress the positive as they look for ways to adjust the decades-old alliance to changes in the region.")

Now, this is more what I think and hear and what seems to be the view of the New York Times as well.

J2B (not verified)

at 08:12 on November 12th, 2009

Paschen I think when it comes to politics and international relationships, nothing is ever clear cut and it's about gamesmanship. Both Obama and Hatoyama made promises and statements during their election campaigns but in the cold world of reality may not be able to deliver, at least, in the ways they had initially hoped for. Politics is always about compromise and even with the story about the U.S. military in Japan, there will be compromises on that too. There are about the same number of military bases in Japan, as there are in Germany. The big difference is, that Germany does not pay to support them!

Uwe Paschen

at 17:30 on November 12th, 2009

Now, I can concur with some of that. Why the title is "Could". :) The U.S. have closed most of their bases in Germany by now and are still being asked to close what is remaining, same is asked of them here in Japan. The U.S. had withdraw all their missiles from Germany as well. Germany used to pay to support them until 1989 when they stopped. The U.S. still have to pay for use of the land wish they have not done so far.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 17:41 on November 12th, 2009

Yes in Germany Canadian Forces Bases were also paid for under the Host Nation support clause under the Status of Forces Agreement I believe. I don't know what the agreements in Japan are, probably along the same lines though.

Some US facilities in Germany will remain open for logistics support. Rhein-Main Airbase, Ramstein and the hospital in Landshut in all likelihood will remain open. The status of those Bases have been changed though since the end of the Cold War. I suspect the US is now required to accept full financial responsibility now and is probably also paying rent for them.

Last time I was in Germany it was interesting that the facilites in Neu Ulm - especially Married Quarters were now housing for refugees and other low income families.

Uwe Paschen

at 19:23 on November 12th, 2009

Same happened to the base in Eschborn/Frankfurt, It is now used for refugees as well.

The British base in Wolfenbuttel is also a refugee camp now.

james alexander (not verified)

at 22:16 on November 12th, 2009

I respect the Japanese peoples vision and compassion however they are totally naive. Asia is brewing up militarism big time: a) China (enemy of Japan) has a massive and soon to be up to 80's technology style force, you have to ask yourself why they are trying to do with their 90 first-strike nuclear subs (those are used to attack, not defend). They have many nukes. China has shown a very tangible and significant disregard for human life for all of it's history b) North Korea is still super crazy and they have nukes. Technically, the US is still war with them. Bad bear Russia is nearby. India and Pakistan- both nukes - nearby. Europe is a totally benevolent super power, moreover, Russia is reasonably contained - so the US does not need a big force there. LETS BE SMART PACIFISTS THAT SAVE THE WORLD, NOT THE KIND THAT END UP DEAD IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP. Whatever has happened in the past aside, Japan and US - and NATO and UN should be working together to project a strong but benevolent military presence. THIS IS THE BEST DETERRENCE AGAINST WAR.

J2B (not verified)

at 22:28 on November 12th, 2009

I agree, "let's be smart pacifists!"

Uwe Paschen

at 04:58 on November 15th, 2009

There was a slogan in the 70s, 80s and 90s in Germany "Better to be Red then dead" this at a time when the US and USSR armed them self to the point that with their nuclear arsenal alone they could have destroyed the Earth and wiped out all life not once but 80 times each.

Now, that was over kill and far worth then what is happening today with China or Russia.

Russia offered disarmament several times in the last decade alone and the US have always refused until Obama who is not saying no, but has not said yes either so far.

This slogan helped the "Ost-Politic" from Willy Brandt to take shape and put pressure on the supper powers, for a time their was hope and some of those weapons where destroyed in a mutual agreement. Several countries in Europe refused to keep on playing the game and some declared them self Nuclear free zones.

It is not naive Pacifism but the only logical anther to the madness. It does come with some risks, however those are far smaller in nature then the risk of any escalation or war ever could be.

Fear is what creates this monster and what drives us into camps, dividing us and making enemies rather then building for peace, co-operation and justice for all of humanity.

Barry ORegan

at 10:21 on November 15th, 2009

I tell ya, Japan is tops when it comes to technology that works and doesnt break soon after the warranty expires.

Barry ORegan

at 10:23 on November 15th, 2009

As for the other, that is a difference of opinion many debate about.

The Rev (not verified)

at 05:00 on January 11th, 2010

Japan is already a beacon to the world....in having been the only country in the world to be hit with two Atomic bombs....targeting their innocent population.... It was a terrorist act....and the US terrorists even after claiming they won the war back in 1945 still occupy and control Japan today 2010...Go figure....and people really believe the US will leave Iraq and Afghanistan? If the US leaves Japan after all this time...we might believe the US that they have intentions to leave Iraq and Afghanistan someday... I contend that the occupation of Japan is also one of the reasons there are terror organizations throughout the world.......And isn't that convenient for the US Military to give cause to remain in Japan. Japan should be given it's freedom if the US is to ever claim any validity to its own premises in being a free society. If America thinks remaining in Japan is legitimate it also means America thinks it should occupy each and every country in the world....Think that will ever happen? I don't....so America does not have the air of freedom ownership over the world.... In fact America is quite the opposite of freedom....it is all about Domination and Control......that is to protect the careers of those who commited mistakes and War Crimes upon the people in the world.... The Worship of the God of Gun is the absolute down fall of economies...and progress in the new Green emerging World Environment. America has to stop targeting and killing off cultures in the world....it needs to make real friends instead of pointing its gun around the world.....saying "world you are my friend aren't you!!" because if you aren't we have a big missile for you. People and nations do not want that false claim of friendship....or the phoney lies they will be pacifists with a big fist...and bazooka on thier lap.... No that is hypocrisy,......we can not achieve unless we do the truth....It is that simple....and it proves our courage....and spirit. So with us or against us Bush? Are you a coward to throw down the arms of WMD? I say America has a big wide yellow streak that runs across the red white and blue.... Hello Uwe...nice to see you again...Nice Article....and Hello Barry hope to hear from you..... Drop me a line.... djermano@yahoo.com The Rev.

nanute

at 02:47 on January 19th, 2010

Does this action make sense for Japan's long term national security? Or, is this a reaction to a growing anti-American sentiment by the citizens of Japan? You are there Uwe what say you.

Uwe Paschen

at 05:53 on January 19th, 2010

Good question nanute, It does make sense though. There is an old saying "once brother is closer then once Cousin." Or if you will, "Blood is always seeker then water,"

Japan, Korea, Vietnam and China share a common heritage, Culture, Race, Religion for the most part. Even if they do not always see eye to eye, they do have over 2600 years of common history, trade and even there writing is similar. All those countries have more in common with each other then the UK and the US or the UK and Germany could have in common.

Further, geographically they are so close to one another that they are far better of working together and getting along then not.

They plan on forming a Asian version of the EU and if they should succeed, it would be a formidable political and economic force in the world.

Hugh Askew

at 12:07 on January 24th, 2010

The US should pull out of Japan altogether. Let them pay for their own defense. They are far enough in the hole financially that a little more won't hurt. Demographic suicide is the chosen course there, and it is destined to become a has been country. Indeed, it already looks sickly next to some of it's once poorer cousins.