Limit of Gubernatorial Diplomacy

Frustrated with national leadership lagging behind in improving bilateral relationship with South Korea, the Governor of Tokyo, Yo-ichi Masuzoe, visited Seoul and had a meeting with President Park Geun-hye, with whom Japanese Prime Minister had not built normal relationship. Although Masuzoe brought Abe’s message for improving Japan-South Korea relationship, Park only requested taking appropriate action on interpretation of history as she had always been. It was too timid for Japanese leader to expect a local governor to improve personal relationship with South Korean leader, which he fundamentally had broken down.

As former scholar in international relations and lawmaker of the House of Councillors, Masuzoe showed his willingness to contribute to national diplomacy for finding a breakthrough. According to reports, Abe expressed his determination to improve bilateral relationship between Japan and South Korea in the letter Masuzoe brought.

Park, however, did not stepped into closer position to Japan than it had been. “It is regretful that sentiments of both nations are torn apart with political difficulty,” told Park, and she urged to solve comfort women issue with “sincere effort.” “I hope you,” she added to Masuzoe, “to make every effort for both nations to stably develop their relationship with sharing correct understanding on history.”

It is fair to say that Masuzoe did his best in his standpoint. Not only national relationship, friendship between two capitals, Tokyo and Seoul, had been sober during ultra-right governor, Shintaro Ishihara, resided. Just the fact that Masuzoe could see the President of South Korea was the only positive attitude from Korean side. “I believe that I could blow some winds between both nations,” told Masuzoe in his press conference in Seoul.

In terms of improving bilateral relationship, Park answered nothing. Insisting on “appropriate understanding on history” was attributing current difficulties to Abe. Even if the letter expressed sincere apology of Abe, Park had no reason to show soft attitude to Japan, because it would look like approaching Japan from Korean side. From Korean side, Abe’s diplomacy is nothing but aloof.

The man who overturned a toy box was Abe. To end this messy situation, Abe has been saying that “Well, I’m not unwilling to do that, if you reach me with no condition.” No, he was the man who created condition. He has been acting as an overprotected little boy doing everything in his preferable way. Observing the situation from a neutral viewpoint, it is unrealistic to expect fundamental improvement as long as Abe is on the top of Japanese leadership.