Incompetent Diplomacy

China has been aggressive against Japan of its leaders’ distorted views on post-war history in the discussion all around the world. Although Japan has been trying to explain its standpoint, there were a few supporters for it, because most people in the world were skeptical on Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, of his justification on his visit to Yasukuni war shrine: “What I did was what every leaders would do.” Abe damaged Japan’s diplomacy, which already had been waning.

In the Munich Security Conference, a half-century old framework for international security management, Fu Ying, the Chairwoman of Foreign Affairs Committee on China’s National Congress, firmly criticized Abe’s recognition of post-war history. “Until the Japanese leaders can face honestly what happened during the war, until they can make genuine reconciliation with the people of their neighbors, until they can take off the burden of history, it's very hard for them to become a constructive member of Asian partnership,” she answered a question from the audience. She added her elaboration on Abe’s personality, saying “It should be a failure of history education in Japan. Born after the war, he is extremely in need of knowledge and has cold sentiment to the war victims.”

Japanese Foreign Minister, Fumio Kishida, made rebuttal, which posed no damage on her. “ We have been facing history, expressed unequivocal reflection about the war, and walked through as a peaceful nation,” told Kishida and requested China security dialogue. If it had been something about academic conference, it was all right. The problem was that was what the Foreign Minister of Japan said at most. Kishida just read out a paper prepared by official of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japanese language, while Fu appealed to the audience in English.

What Kishida had to do was pointing out Fu’s misunderstandings, proving correctness of Japanese leaders and showing Japan’s activity for international peace. Although it was not easy to justify Abe’s reckless visit of Yasukuni, Kishida could at least explain that Senkaku Islands had been under administration of Japan or the United States, not China, in post-war era, and China’s territorial assertion over the islands might disturb peaceful situation in East China Sea. He also could say that Japan has been successful in not waging any war after the World War II, because of its appropriate education. Japan had actually helped China with a huge amount of overseas development assistance for decades after the war. No effective response against aggression definitely damages Japan’s national interest.