Part 2 of 2: Japan strives to maintain, develop partnership with Asia<\/p>\n
Ichiro Fujisaki, Japanese Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jakarta<\/p>\n
ASEAN has been a source of stability and prosperity for more
\nthan three decades. It has successfully been adjusting to
\nchallenges such as its own expansion and the Asian financial
\ncrisis.<\/p>\n
Japan is planning to fortify its ties and develop a new
\npartnership with ASEAN as signed in Bali this year. In less than
\na week, we will have Japan-ASEAN (30-years) Commemorative Summit
\nin Tokyo. The outcome is expected to be a historic one. ASEAN-
\nJapan Basic Document and ASEAN-Japan Joint Action Plan are
\nexpected to be adopted. What is important is although it is a new
\npartnership, it will be built on a long-tested and ever-firm
\nground which the two sides have cooperated to foster.<\/p>\n
In any of East Asian communities to be developed in the coming
\nyears, ASEAN will have a key role. Japan-ASEAN ties mentioned
\nabove will also constitute an indispensable basis. Regional
\nframeworks beyond ASEAN need to be developed in a balanced way.
\nPMC, ASEAN+3, APEC and ARF should all be fortified. They should
\nnot be exclusive of each other.<\/p>\n
Instead, they should be developed complementing each other.
\nThese regional dialogues or mechanisms should be as open as
\npossible to non-members. Especially those who have been
\ncontributing to peace and prosperity in this region. You-come-
\nonly-when-we-call-you approach will not work. Japan sees these
\nvarious fora as building blocks of a \"community that acts
\ntogether and advances together\".<\/p>\n
In this course, we may add more political agenda in APEC
\nprocess, or advance the ARF process beyond confidence building
\nand into preventive diplomacy. We may further our cooperation in
\nthe economic field through ASEAN+3. CSCAP can support these
\nprocesses as established and very effective second track.<\/p>\n
Now, let us turn to international organizations.<\/p>\n
The UN role in the region has been significant. The PKO in
\nCambodia and East Timor were a notable success.<\/p>\n
We owe much of our development so far to the free and fair
\nmultilateral regime based on WTO. In multilateral mechanism, any
\ncountry has to abide by the rules. We have seen such a case very
\nrecently and were very much reassured of the value of such
\nmechanisms. We all wholeheartedly welcome the recent accession of
\nChina and Taiwan to the WTO. APEC proved its importance when,
\nagainst expectations of the outside world, it agreed in Bangkok
\nthat we re-launch negotiations as soon as possible from where we
\nhad left off in Cancun this September.<\/p>\n
Yes, we do promote an \"Initiative for Japan-ASEAN
\nComprehensive Economic Partnership\". But, FTAs should remain as
\ncomplementing WTO. Not replacing it. Japan does not take a
\nposition that if WTO does not advance, we will have FTAs. We have
\nto avoid the situation where regional blocs and protectionism
\nprevail.<\/p>\n
Multilateralism is one of the major products and asset of the
\nlast half century. At times, it seems insufficient or too slow to
\narrive at conclusions. But, in the end, it should work. Rules are
\nRules. We all have to strive to hold up this banner of
\nmultilateralism.<\/p>\n
As I stated, Asia-Pacific region has enjoyed remarkable peace
\nand prosperity. U.S. presence in the region has effectively
\nsupported this. This will remain so in the foreseeable future.
\nThe U.S. is currently reviewing its overseas forces. I am
\nconvinced that this will not undermine its capability and that
\nthere will be proper consultations with partners.<\/p>\n
Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements together with Republic of
\nKorea-U.S. Security Arrangements have played the most significant
\nrole in securing U.S. presence. Signs of deepening security
\ncooperation between the U.S. and countries in the region should
\nbe welcomed. Singapore started to accept U.S. navy vessels to its
\nnavy base and concluded ACSA. The Philippines and Thailand are
\nconducting large-scale joint exercises with the U.S.<\/p>\n
In short, maintaining and fortifying the present structure
\nbecomes the key in this area as well. On the basis of such
\nnotion, we should tackle newly arising regional and global
\nissues.<\/p>\n
Korean Peninsula is a traditional \"hot spot\" in the region and
\nalso carries aspects of new challenges, namely WMD. The Six-Party
\nTalks started thanks to the Chinese government's constructive
\nefforts. Japan will work closely with other parties to realize
\nthe next round of the Talks and make substantial achievement
\ntowards solution of the problem in the Talks. I would like to
\nexpress our appreciation for the understanding and support
\ndemonstrated by the international community on the issue of
\nabduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea.<\/p>\n
Counter-terrorism cooperation requires internationally
\nconcerted response. The case of Afghanistan shows that we cannot
\nafford to have one country lagging behind in such international
\nefforts. We are trying to close loopholes and to reinforce weak
\nlinks.<\/p>\n
This is done through harmonization of national regulations,
\ncapacity building, and cooperation between law enforcement
\nagencies and customs. I welcome the fact that regional
\ncooperation in counter-terrorism is vigorously promoted through
\nsuch frameworks as ARF and APEC. It is to be noted that economic
\nagenda including eradication of poverty would serve to suppress
\nor restrain terrorist activities from a different angle.<\/p>\n
Reconstruction of Iraq is now a challenge to international
\ncommunity as a whole. We simply cannot afford to fail. The best
\nway to deal with such acts of terrorism is to make concerted
\nefforts in both ensuring security and assisting reconstruction.<\/p>\n
This article is based on an abbreviated text of a luncheon
\nspeech delivered at the Conference on Security Cooperation in
\nAsia Pacific (CSCAP) recently held in Jakarta.<\/p>",
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