Debates between the government and the ruling and opposition parties are taking place at the budget committees of both houses of the Diet. However, it must be said that discussions on foreign affairs and national security leave much to be desired.
The international situation is in the midst of change. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and each political party need to clarify the role Japan should play and the path to resolving pending issues, and deepen discussions on these topics.
Referring to the U.S. presidential election turmoil, Suga said: "The Japan-U.S. alliance is the foundation of Japan's diplomacy. I want to get along well with the next president." He also mentioned the division of U.S. society.
Once the outcome of the presidential election is finalized, the prime minister intends to determine when to visit the United States and hold his first summit meeting with the next U.S. president. There are many issues that Japan and the United States should cooperate to tackle, including security and trade issues. It is hoped that the leaders will build their new relationship of trust at an early stage.
Concerning North Korea, the prime minister stressed his intention to seek a comprehensive solution to the abduction of Japanese nationals to that country, as well as nuclear and missile issues. Just like former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Suga said that he is ready to directly meet without any conditions with Workers' Party of Korea Chairman Kim Jong Un to solve the abduction issue.
The Abe administration changed its strategy for breaking the deadlock at a summit meeting with North Korea, as its initial emphasis on pressuring Pyongyang failed to bring about results. Suga must work closely with the United States to advance the negotiations with North Korea.
The largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, raised the question of why Japan is not participating in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which comprehensively bans the development, possession and use of nuclear weapons.
Commending the treaty for "sharing the goal of nuclear abolition," Suga emphasized that Japan would "make efforts to serve as a bridge among countries with different positions," considering the fact that no nuclear-armed power has joined the treaty.
Japan's responsibility is to urge nuclear powers to make concrete progress in nuclear disarmament, while bearing in mind the significance of nuclear deterrence in terms of security.
The First Committee of the U.N. General Assembly has adopted by a majority vote a draft resolution submitted by Japan to abolish nuclear weapons. The United States and Britain, which are nuclear powers, also joined the proposal.
In the draft resolution, Russia was in favor of a passage noting the significance of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which will expire in February next year, while China was the only country that opposed it. Boosting the momentum for nuclear disarmament, even if just by a little, is of no small significance.
Debate on important foreign and domestic issues has been inactive partly because questions have concentrated on the issue of the Science Council of Japan. The prime minister should thoroughly explain in his own words why he refused to appoint the six candidates recommended by the academic council in a way that many of the public can understand.
All the government and the ruling and opposition parties must fulfill their responsibilities to the people through constructive policy debates.
-- The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on Nov. 6, 2020.
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