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Chapter 2 Japan’s Foreign Policy that Takes a Panoramic Perspective of the World Map Section 1 Asia and Oceania 024 Section 2 North America 096 Section 3 Latin America and the Caribbean 115 Section 4 Europe 126 Section 5 Russia, Central Asia and Caucasus 143 Section 6 The Middle East and North Africa 155 Section 7 Africa 169 外交青書-英語版30-2-1.indd 23 2018/09/07 8:43:06 Chapter 2 Japan’s Foreign Policy that Takes a Panoramic Perspective of the World Map Section 1 Asia and Oceania expected to rise sharply. This will support Overview strong economic growth within the region, (General overview) and the huge demand for infrastructure The Asia-Oceania region is blessed and massive purchasing power of the large with an abundance of human resources. middle class will also help to bring renewed It is the world’s growth center and has affluence and vitality to Japan. Realizing been enhancing its presence. Of the world affluence and stability throughout Asia and population of 7.6 billion, approximately Oceania is indispensable for Japan’s peace 3.6 billion people live in East Asia Summit and prosperity. (EAS) member states (excluding the U.S. Meanwhile, the security environment and Russia)1. This represents about 48% in the Asia-Oceania region is becoming of the world’s population2. The combined increasingly severe as seen in the following nominal gross domestic product (GDP) developments: provocation such as of the Association of Southeast Asian nuclear tests and launch of ballistic missile Nations (ASEAN) member states, China development by North Korea; modernization and India grew 300% over the last ten of military forces in a manner that lacks years, as compared to the world average transparency and attempt to change the of 150%. Total exports and imports of EAS status quo by force or coercion in countries member states (excluding the U.S. and in the region; and tension within the region Russia) is 10.2 trillion US dollars, making growing over maritime domain, including it the second largest market behind the in the South China Sea. Other factors European Union (10.6 trillion US dollars)3. hindering the stable growth of the region There are close economic ties among these include immature economic and financial nations and they have a high degree of systems, environmental pollution, unstable economic interdependence. As the middle demand and supply of food and resources, class expands, overall purchasing power is natural disasters and aging population. 1 ASEAN (member states: Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, Viet Nam, Malaysia, Myanmar and Laos), Japan, China, the ROK, India, Australia and New Zealand 2 The State of World Population 2017 3 International Monetary Fund (IMF) 024 DIPLOMATIC BLUEBOOK 2018 外交青書-英語版30-2-1.indd 24 2018/09/07 8:43:08 Asia and Oceania Section 1 (Japan-U.S. Alliance and Asia-Oceania the importance of stability and prosperity region) in the Indo-Pacific region—a core region The Japan-U.S. Security Arrangement of vitality for the entire world. Japan and is the foundation of peace, prosperity, the U.S. will continue to play leading Chapter 2 and freedom, not only for Japan but also roles in facilitating regional peace and the entire Asia-Pacific region. Amid the prosperity, including activities based on the increasing severity of the regional security abovementioned strategy. environment including North Korea, the Japan-U.S. Alliance is more important than (China) ever. Since the inauguration of the Trump Japan and China are neighbors across administration in January 2017, Prime the East China Sea. The Japan-China Minister Abe and President Trump held relationship is one of the most important more than 20 Summit Meetings including bilateral relationships characterized by telephone calls by the end of the same close economic relations, and people-to- year, and the two leaders have been people and cultural exchanges. In 2017, working to build a robust relationship of the number of Chinese travelers to Japan trust, coordinating closely on various issues was about 7.36 million (Japan National of the Asia-Pacific region, including the one Tourism Organization (JNTO)), setting of North Korea. a record high for two consecutive years, In February 2017, a month after the following the previous year which was 6.37 inauguration of the Trump administration, million. Prime Minister Abe visited the U.S. to hold 2017, which was the 45th anniversary of a meeting with President Trump. They the establishment of diplomatic relations shared their concerns about the increasingly between Japan and China, saw frequent severe security environment in the Asia- high-level dialogues including three Summit Pacific region and held discussions on this Meetings and four Foreign Ministerial trend, including North Korean nuclear and Meetings. The Chinese Embassy in Tokyo missile development and the unilateral held a reception celebrating the anniversary, attempts to change the status quo in the and Prime Minister Abe and Foreign East China Sea and South China Sea. The Minister Kono attended the reception. On two leaders shared their understanding September 29, the day of the anniversary, of the importance of building a network the leaders of state and foreign ministers of of allies and strengthening multilayered both countries exchanged congratulatory cooperative relationships between allies telegrams. and like-minded nations, situating the Japan and China share responsibility for Japan-U.S. Alliance at its center, and regional and global peace and stability, the necessity of continuous efforts to and stable Japan-China relations are strengthen the alliance. Prime Minister Abe crucial when responding to regional and President Trump agreed to pursue and global issues, including the North together a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Korea issue. Although difficult issues Strategy,” during President Trump’s visit exist between Japan and China, from the to Japan in November 2017, underscoring fact that they are neighboring countries, DIPLOMATIC BLUEBOOK 2018 025 外交青書-英語版30-2-1.indd 25 2018/09/07 8:43:08 Chapter 2 Japan’s Foreign Policy that Takes a Panoramic Perspective of the World Map Japan and China will continue to follow work to support the efforts of Mongolia the approach of sustaining a “Mutually to achieve economic recovery and fiscal Beneficial Relationship based on Common rehabilitation through an International Strategic Interests,” pursue cooperation Monetary Fund assistance program, while and exchange in all manners of fields while also building a truly mutually beneficial dealing with concerns in an appropriate strategic partnership covering a wide range manner, and develop friendly and of fields. cooperative bilateral relations in a stable manner based on a broad perspective. (Republic of Korea) Good relations between Japan and the (Taiwan) Republic of Korea (ROK) are essential Taiwan is an important partner which for the peace and stability in the Asia- has intimate people-to-people exchanges Pacific region. The year 2015 marked the and close economic ties with Japan and is a 50th anniversary of the normalization of friend of Japan. Working relations between Japan-ROK diplomatic relations, and there Japan and Taiwan are also deepening, and have been vigorous exchanges between in 2017, cooperation documents regarding two countries. In 2017 the number of mutual assistance in customs matters and people traveling between Japan and the cultural exchanges between the Japan- ROK reached an all-time high. Economic Taiwan Exchange Association and the relations are also close. On the political Taiwan-Japan Relations Association front, Japan-ROK Summit Meetings were signed. In line with the 1972 Japan- between Prime Minister Abe and President China Joint Communique, the relationship Moon Jae-in (inaugurated in May 2017) between Japan and Taiwan continues to be were held in July and September. A Summit maintained as working relations at the non- Meeting was also held in February 2018 governmental level, under which both sides when Prime Minister Abe visited the ROK are cooperating on building closer ties. to attend the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. On the other (Mongolia) hand, in December 2017, the Taskforce to Mongolia is an important regional Review the Agreement on Comfort Women partner for Japan. 2017, which was the Issue, which reviewed the agreement 45th anniversary of the establishment of between the Governments of Japan and diplomatic relations between Japan and the ROK in 2015 published a report, and Mongolia, saw the first-ever reciprocal the Government of the ROK announced its visits by the head of the two countries’ position on the Japan-ROK agreement in parliaments- Chairman of State Great Hural January 2018. For the Government of Japan, Enkhbold (who visited Japan in March); and it is completely unacceptable that the ROK Speaker of the House of Representatives would seek additional measures from Japan. Oshima in the Diet (who visited Mongolia The Government of Japan will continue in July). Based on the mid-term Action to strongly urge the Government of the Plan signed by the two countries’ Foreign ROK to steadily implement the agreement, Ministers in March, Japan is going to which confirmed that the issue is “resolved 026 DIPLOMATIC BLUEBOOK 2018 外交青書-英語版30-2-1.indd 26 2018/09/07 8:43:08 Asia and Oceania Section 1 finally and irreversibly.” Although difficult May or early June. Japan will continue to issues exist between Japan and the ROK, it cooperate closely with the U.S. and the is important to move Japan-ROK relations ROK to urge North Korea to abandon all forward in a future-oriented manner while weapons of mass destruction and ballistic Chapter 2 managing these issues appropriately. missile of all ranges. (North Korea) (Southeast Asian countries) In 2017, North Korea conducted the Against the backdrop of their high rates of sixth nuclear test and launched 15 ballistic economic growth, Southeast Asian countries missiles, including the two that flew have been increasing their importance and over Japan.
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