While paying attention to the subtleties of diplomacy, the government should achieve accountability, and the ruling and opposition parties should discuss issues from a broader perspective. Among other things, important matters require constructive debates in the Diet.
Intensive discussions have been held at the Budget Committee in each chamber of the Diet. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphasized his policy of basing Japan-Russia peace treaty negotiations on the Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration of 1956.
"[The declaration] is the only document approved and ratified by both nations' legislatures, and it is still effective," he said in explaining the reason for his stance.
The joint declaration states that only the Habomai group of islets and Shikotan Island will be returned. Russia's stance is that Etorofu and Kunashiri islands are not covered by territorial talks. How should the government work to resolve the question of possession regarding the four northern islands, which are an inherent part of Japanese territory?
"Asserting our position is not all it takes [to settle the issue]," the prime minister said. Although it is proper to look for a solution that is acceptable to both Japan and Russia, there is no gaining understanding from the public if Japan makes unilateral concessions.
It is vital to tenaciously negotiate with Russia while adhering to the basic policy of resolving the northern territories issue before concluding a peace treaty.
Keep public informed
The prime minister did not clearly state that the four islands are being unlawfully occupied by Russia. Foreign Minister Taro Kono also said, "I'm absolutely refraining from stating the government's view or its policy toward negotiations."
To smoothly promote negotiations, it seems they do not want to unnecessarily provoke Russia. Russia should restrain itself from making remarks that will antagonize Japan, too.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently insisted that Japan is responsible for the fact that a portion of the joint declaration that concerns the territories has not been implemented. However, the Soviet Union was the one to insist on putting the declaration aside, as it was antagonized by the revision of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty in 1960.
The government should appropriately refute assertions that contradict facts.
Even if the details of top-level negotiations cannot be made public, it is important to occasionally offer easy-to-understand explanations about the direction of the talks and the progress made.
The present situation facing the Japan-South Korea relationship is that the top leaders of the two nations cannot hold summit talks, an aftermath of South Korea's response to the comfort women issue and a ruling by its Supreme Court ordering the payment of compensation to former requisitioned workers.
"There is no other way but to make sure South Korea properly handles [the problems]," Kono said. There is every reason to criticize the South Korean government for neglecting the agreements reached with Japan and to urge that country to overcome the gridlock.
On the other hand, it is indispensable to cooperate with South Korea to make progress in tackling the pending problem of North Korea's denuclearization.
Japan must make thorough diplomatic efforts to prevent its confrontation with South Korea over the history issues from disturbing three-nation cooperative actions that include the United States.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 27, 2018)
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