International Diplomacy Challenges for Britain and Japan: An Overview

‘International Diplomacy Challenges for Britain and Japan’ was the first in the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation’s 2009 seminar series, ‘Changing World Views: International Challenges for the UK and Japan’.

Summary

The Chair, Sir Graham Fry, British Ambassador to Japan from 2004-2008, opened proceedings by positing that the UK and Japan tend to have the same aims and objectives though perhaps different strategic viewpoints. He went on to introduce the first speaker, Minister Sumio Kusaka, Consul-General at the Embassy of Japan in London.

 

Kusaka began by saying that though without significant problems, the relationship between the UK and Japan has not reached its full potential and that a remarkable relationship could be achieved if the two countries were to use each other’s capabilities to the full in complementing one another.

 

Kusaka remarked that the UK and Japan share the same values and similar policies on issues of comparable concern and went on to illustrate this by showing that at the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly, concluded in November 2008, Japan and the UK voted unanimously in a striking 259 out of 278 resolutions – agreeing with each other more often than either did with the USA.

 

Both the UK and Japan, commented Kusaka, have contributed to the international reconstruction efforts in Iraq, are committed to climate change, believe in free trade and the free market; consequently making reliable, natural and complementary global partners. This unanimity of purpose may become increasingly important as the fast growing developing economies (BRICS) of Brazil, Russia, India and China start catching up as, according to Kusaka, they hold different values to the UK and Japan.

 

According to Kusaka, the likely challenges ahead for both the UK and Japan are likely to include the enduring financial problems and market failure, a heightened need to combat climate change, scarcity of food and energy, nuclear proliferation in North Korea and Iran, non-state radical governments, the relationship between the West and the Muslim world and the likelihood of a more turbulent and dangerous place in which, however, Japan and the UK will still wield power as global players. In dealing with these trials the newly inaugurated President Obama will need to decide which issues to handle personally and which to delegate. Kusaka, hopeful that the word will change for the better with Obama, went on to say that the new President could turn to Japan and the UK, as trusted long-term allies, for advice.

 

Sir Graham introduced the second speaker, William Horsley, a journalist and former BBC Bureau Chief in Tokyo (1983-1990), whom he had met in Japan in the 1970s when both were there for the first time. William Horsley began by saying that he would follow Minister Kusaka’s statesmanlike presentation with a kinetic talk, so as to provoke arguments.

 

Horsley expressed his concern about the paralysis which has afflicted Europe over the last eight years and which he attributes in part to the Bush presidency and laziness. The situation in Europe, in Horsley’s view, after 60 years of cohesion and in the absence of an obvious common threat, is in disarray and reminiscent of the interwar period of the 1930s which saw a turning away and a loss of confidence in our liberal economy. Horsley went on to quote Robert Peston, the BBC’s business editor, who has remarked on the present financial crisis spelling the end of an era, ‘comparable to the end of Communism but not as upbeat.’

 

Horsley went on to list five challenges which the UK will have to contend with.

 

The first is the global economic meltdown. Looking for the positive, Horsley said that though Obama may not be an economist his appointment has helped improve the mood and that Gordon Brown is far happier dealing with the economy than foreign affairs. The G20 meeting scheduled to take place in April and hosted by Gordon Brown will be very important, as new machinery will be necessary in bringing new powers on board such as India and China.

 

The second challenge is nuclear survival and terrorism. According to Horsley, other than the USA, the UK is the most serious target for Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. Iran, probably not far off developing a nuclear device, will also remain a worry as will India and Pakistan which, given the UK’s historical involvement, are tremendously important.

 

The next challenge posited by Horsley is Russian malign authority and instability. It does not bode well that murders of human rights activists and journalists have become somewhat commonplace in Russia and that its politicians seem set on garnering popularity at home through antagonising countries such as the UK. He went on to say that the war with Georgia is more frightening than it appears as is the war over gas supplies.

 

The fourth challenge is the divide within Europe. Horsley said it was time for the EU to move on – to stop operating in the context of the Second World War and to stop regarding the UK as the ‘spoiler’. Horsley has also been horrified by the lack of solidarity when it comes to helping the Eastern European countries.

 

The fifth challenge is how to deal with the rise of mass ignorance. Horsley said that though the global community had promised so much, it has delivered mass ignorance.

 

The questions, comments and answers following the presentations were wide-ranging and included the view that Bush and the Republican party are not representative of the USA, the feelings of great expectation for Obama’s presidency, the opinion that the UK will not join the Euro-zone any time soon, consensus on the importance of Japan’s peacekeeping operations and the need for Japan to resolve postwar issues with China and North Korea and to observe the international consensus on certain issues as part of its political maturing. The lack of ignorance about and the indifference to Japan was raised as was the more optimistic view that the British generally like Japan as well as Japanese exports and culture.

 

Sir John Whitehead, British Ambassador to Japan from 1986-1992 and Chairman of the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, gave the vote of thanks, observing that what is true and necessary today for US domestic policy such as an end to recriminations and worn-out dogma seems equally relevant for the international stage. Sir John thanked Minister Kusaka for his measured presentation and William Horsley for his rollercoaster of a talk replete with insights. The Chairman, Sir Graham Fry, was commended for his judiciousness, thoughtfulness and involvement.

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