((((;゜Д゜)))英字新聞
'Fraternity' alone won't push forward diplomacy
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama made his diplomatic debut in a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday, the first in a series of scheduled summit meetings during his time in the United States
At the meeting, Hatoyama expressed his desire for Japan and China to acknowledge and overcome differences and build a relationship of trust, in a spirit of "fraternity." He also said he would like to pursue the idea of forming an East Asian Community based on this idea.
The idea also is stipulated in the Democratic Party of Japan's policy pledges. We assume the prime minister's intention was to stress the new government's stance of attaching importance to relations with Asian neighbors.
But Hu, in response, stopped short of referring to the proposed plan and instead mostly mentioned proposals to boost economic and trade relationships between the two countries. As for historical recognition, the Chinese president said he would like to highly commend Hatoyama's stance of following the statement made by then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama in 1995 that acknowledged Japan's colonial past and military aggression.
In a way, the relationship of the two countries has been once again moved forward based on the "strategic relationship of mutual benefit," a political agreement reached between the two countries that was set up when the Liberal Democratic Party was in charge.
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Outstanding issues remain
Meanwhile, there was a fierce tug-of-war between Japan and China regarding the framework of the East Asia community. The prime minister will sooner or later be asked to present how to give shape to the envisioned community.
When it comes to the joint gas field development project in the East China Sea, an issue of contention between the two countries, Hatoyama said he wanted to change the "sea of problems" into a "sea of fraternity."
The two countries have already agreed to jointly develop the Shirakaba gas field, known as the Chunxiao gas field in China. Nevertheless, during the summer, China made moves that could be seen as preparations to independently develop the gas field. It is a good example of the problems that exist in Japan-China diplomacy that cannot be simply resolved with "fraternity."
Touching on the Shirakaba dispute, Hatoyama urged the Chinese side to start negotiations soon to forge a treaty on the 2008 political agreement, saying he is unable to discern China's real intentions. On this, we agree.
Hu said in response that it would be necessary to take correct steps from a broad perspective. We urge China to start negotiations as soon as possible.
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Push harder on climate
On climate change, Hatoyama has pledged as a midterm goal for Japan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020.
Hu reportedly told Hatoyama that he highly valued the prime minister's "positive attitude," and added that China would make its own efforts to lead the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change to a successful conclusion.
However, we understand that the prime minister proposed the reduction goal on the premise that the United States, China and other major greenhouse gas-emitting countries would join the effort of cutting emissions and agree to ambitious goals.
The prime minister must step up efforts to persuade China, which has refused to shoulder is greenhouse gas reduction responsibilities, to change its mind.
Following Hu, Hatoyama will meet U.S. President Barack Obama and other world leaders. We hope at these meetings, Hatoyama will keep in mind that diplomatic problems cannot be resolved by fraternity alone but also must involve facing grim realities concerning conflicting national interests.
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama made his diplomatic debut in a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday, the first in a series of scheduled summit meetings during his time in the United States
At the meeting, Hatoyama expressed his desire for Japan and China to acknowledge and overcome differences and build a relationship of trust, in a spirit of "fraternity." He also said he would like to pursue the idea of forming an East Asian Community based on this idea.
The idea also is stipulated in the Democratic Party of Japan's policy pledges. We assume the prime minister's intention was to stress the new government's stance of attaching importance to relations with Asian neighbors.
But Hu, in response, stopped short of referring to the proposed plan and instead mostly mentioned proposals to boost economic and trade relationships between the two countries. As for historical recognition, the Chinese president said he would like to highly commend Hatoyama's stance of following the statement made by then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama in 1995 that acknowledged Japan's colonial past and military aggression.
In a way, the relationship of the two countries has been once again moved forward based on the "strategic relationship of mutual benefit," a political agreement reached between the two countries that was set up when the Liberal Democratic Party was in charge.
===
Outstanding issues remain
Meanwhile, there was a fierce tug-of-war between Japan and China regarding the framework of the East Asia community. The prime minister will sooner or later be asked to present how to give shape to the envisioned community.
When it comes to the joint gas field development project in the East China Sea, an issue of contention between the two countries, Hatoyama said he wanted to change the "sea of problems" into a "sea of fraternity."
The two countries have already agreed to jointly develop the Shirakaba gas field, known as the Chunxiao gas field in China. Nevertheless, during the summer, China made moves that could be seen as preparations to independently develop the gas field. It is a good example of the problems that exist in Japan-China diplomacy that cannot be simply resolved with "fraternity."
Touching on the Shirakaba dispute, Hatoyama urged the Chinese side to start negotiations soon to forge a treaty on the 2008 political agreement, saying he is unable to discern China's real intentions. On this, we agree.
Hu said in response that it would be necessary to take correct steps from a broad perspective. We urge China to start negotiations as soon as possible.
===
Push harder on climate
On climate change, Hatoyama has pledged as a midterm goal for Japan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020.
Hu reportedly told Hatoyama that he highly valued the prime minister's "positive attitude," and added that China would make its own efforts to lead the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change to a successful conclusion.
However, we understand that the prime minister proposed the reduction goal on the premise that the United States, China and other major greenhouse gas-emitting countries would join the effort of cutting emissions and agree to ambitious goals.
The prime minister must step up efforts to persuade China, which has refused to shoulder is greenhouse gas reduction responsibilities, to change its mind.
Following Hu, Hatoyama will meet U.S. President Barack Obama and other world leaders. We hope at these meetings, Hatoyama will keep in mind that diplomatic problems cannot be resolved by fraternity alone but also must involve facing grim realities concerning conflicting national interests.
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