Chapter 2 Japan’s Foreign Policy that Takes a Panoramic Perspective of the World Map Section 1 Asia and Oceania …………………………………………………………… 26 Section 2 North America ……………………………………………………………… 94 Section 3 Latin America and the Caribbean ………………………………………… 106 Section 4 Europe ……………………………………………………………………… 118 Section 5 Russia, Central Asia and Caucasia ………………………………………… 136 Section 6 The Middle East and North Africa ………………………………………… 143 Section 7 Sub-Saharan Africa ………………………………………………………… 157 Chapter 2 Japan’s Foreign Policy that Takes a Panoramic Perspective of the World Map Section 1 Asia and Oceania Overview General Overview high degree of economic interdependence. As The Asia-Oceania region is home to many of the middle class expands, overall purchasing emerging countries and is blessed with an power is expected to rise sharply. This will abundance of human resources. It is a world support strong economic growth within the growth center and has been enhancing its region, and the huge demand for infrastructure presence. Of the world’s population of 7.2 and massive purchasing power of this large billion,1 approximately 3.4 billion live in East middle class will also help to bring renewed Asia Summit (EAS) member states2 (excluding affluence and vitality to Japan. Realizing the United States and Russia). This represents affluence and stability throughout Asia and 48.1% of the world’s population.3 The combined Oceania is indispensable for Japan’s peace and nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of the prosperity. Association of Southeast Asian Nation Meanwhile, the security environment (ASEAN) member states, China, and India surrounding Japan within the Asia-Oceania grew 340%4 over the last ten years, as region is becoming increasingly severe. North compared with the world average of 100%. Korea continues its nuclear and missile Total exports and imports of EAS member development and engages in provocation; states (excluding the United States and Russia) countries in the region are modernizing their is US$10.7 trillion, making it the second largest military forces in a manner that lacks market behind the European Union (US$11.6 transparency, and are trying to change the trillion). Of these exports and imports, 58.5%5 status quo by force or coercion; and tensions are intra-regional, illustrating the close within the region are growing over maritime economic ties between these nations and their issues, including issues in the South China Sea. 1 State of World Population 2014 Report. 2 ASEAN (member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam), Japan, China, the ROK, India, Australia, and New Zealand. 3 World Bank (WB) World Development Indicators. 4 WB World Development Indicators. 5 International Monetary Fund (IMF), Direction of Trade Statistics. 26 Asia and Oceania Section 1 Other factors hindering the stable growth of relations and people-to-people and cultural the region include immature financial markets, exchanges. In 2014, the number of Chinese environmental pollution, limited supplies of travelers to Japan surpassed the 2 million food and energy, and aging populations. mark for the first time and reached 2.409 Japan-U.S. Alliance million. The number of Chinese visitors has set The Japan-U.S. Alliance is the linchpin of a monthly record for 16 consecutive months Chapter 2 Japan’s diplomacy as the security environment since September 2013.6 At the same time, in the Asia-Pacific region has become there are a number of political and social increasingly severe. Japan welcomes the differences between the two countries, and United States’ continued rebalancing towards precisely because they are neighbors it is the Asia-Pacific, since such policy will contribute inevitable that frictions and confrontations significantly to the stability and prosperity of occasionally occur. the region. When President Barack Obama of In 2014, a variety of efforts were made to the United States visited Japan in April 2014, improve Japan-China relations. Exchanges of the two leaders confirmed the Japan-U.S. views between Minister for Foreign Affairs Alliance’s leading role in ensuring a peaceful Fumio Kishida and Minister of Foreign Affairs and prosperous Asia-Pacific. Japan will Wang Yi were realized on the margins of continue to work closely with the United ASEAN-related foreign ministers’ meetings in States to further contribute to the peace and August and the United Nations (UN) General stability of the world. Assembly session in September. On November China 7, the Japanese and Chinese Governments In recent years, China has achieved rapid released “Regarding Discussions toward economic development while facing a variety Improving Japan-China Relations.” On the 8th, of social and economic challenges, and has a Japan-China foreign ministers’ meeting was significantly enhanced its presence within the held for the first time in two years and two international community in various fields. The months on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific entire international community, including Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Japan, welcomes the development of China as Meeting in Beijing. On the 10th, a Japan-China a responsible, peace-loving nation. However, summit meeting was realized for the first time China’s moves to strengthen its military after two years and six months on the occasion capabilities without sufficient transparency, of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. and its increased maritime activities, are These meetings served as a first step for the causing concern in the entire region. two countries to improve their relations by Japan and China are neighbors across the reaffirming the basic principles of a “Mutually East China Sea. They have an inseparable Beneficial Relationship based on Common relationship characterized by close economic Strategic Interests.” 6 Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) press release, January 20, 2015. Diplomatic Bluebook 2015 27 Chapter 2 Japan’s Foreign Policy that Takes a Panoramic Perspective of the World Map Based on such progress, there has been a and close economic ties. With regard to gradual resumption of dialogues and cultural exchanges, a special exhibition of the cooperation between the two countries, and Palace Museum was held at the Tokyo the bilateral relationship is gradually working National Museum from June to September towards improvement. However, even after 2014 and at the Kyushu National Museum the Japan-China summit meeting, China has from October to November 2014. In line with continued to unilaterally attempt to change the 1972 Japan-China Joint Communique, the the status quo in the East China Sea, including relationship between Japan and Taiwan is intrusion by Chinese Government vessels into maintained through working relations at the Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku non-governmental level, with emphasis on Islands. From January through the end of promotion of working cooperation to achieve December 2014, Chinese Government vessels closer bilateral ties. intruded into Japanese territorial waters 32 Mongolia times (involving a total of 88 vessels). The In 2014, following on from the previous year, Senkaku Islands are an inherent part of the Japan and Mongolia actively carried out high- territory of Japan, in light of historical facts level exchanges. In July, the two countries and based upon international law. Indeed, they reached an agreement in principle in the are under the valid control of Japan. The negotiations of the Japan-Mongolia Economic Government of Japan will continue to deal Partnership Agreement (EPA). Japan will with the situation with resolute determination continue to further strengthen the mutually to defend Japan’s territorial land, sea, and beneficial and complementary cooperation in airspace. wide-ranging areas, including economic Japan and China share responsibilities for cooperation, to deepen the “Strategic peace and stability in the region and the Partnership.” international community. Stable Japan-China Republic of Korea relations are essential, not only for the people Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) are in the two countries, but also for the peace and most important neighboring countries to each stability of the Asia-Oceania region. Based on other, and their good relationship is essential the concept of the “Mutually Beneficial for peace and stability in the Asian-Oceanian Relationship based on Common Strategic region. In 2014, the two countries have Interests,” the Government of Japan will deepened communication at various levels promote the development of Japan-China such as the Japan-U.S.-ROK summit meeting relations from a broad perspective through and two Japan-ROK foreign ministers’ continued dialogues and cooperation at various meetings, with the aim of improving their levels. relations, aware of the importance of Taiwan cooperation towards the 50th anniversary of Taiwan is an important partner with which the normalization of relations in 2015. In recent Japan has intimate people-to-people exchanges years, the people of Japan and the ROK have 28 Asia and Oceania Section 1 steadily deepened and expanded their mutual Japan, under its policy of “dialogue and understanding and interaction, while economic pressure” and in accordance with the Japan- relations remain very close. Despite the fact DPRK Pyongyang Declaration, will continue to that the two countries face difficult issues, in work in close coordination with other countries light of the current situation in the East