Joining Trilateral Drill

Japanese Self-defense Force for the first time joined major military exercise by United States and Australia on Saturday. Needless to say, that new attempt was to counter an Asian giant advancing to Pacific Ocean. From the time of Meiji Restoration, Japan has been taking behavior of escaping Asia and entering the West. Caught between Western leader and Asian continental power, Japan chose joining the Western coalition. It will not stabilize power balance in Asia-Pacific region, anyhow.

The military drill Japan joined was “Talisman Sabre 2015,” which is a biennial combined training between U.S. and Australia forces. It is held in Fog Bay in Northern Territory of Australia this year. The training is “designed to train our respective military forces in planning and conducting Combined Task Force operations to improve the combat readiness and interoperability between our respective forces,” according to the webpage of U.S. Department of Defense. It reflects the closeness of the alliance in the Pacific.

For U.S. and Australia, the participation of Japan is preferable in terms of enhancing military technology. In the plan of replacing six obsolete submarines with twelve new ones, Australia hopes to obtain advanced stealth technology of Japan. While Ministry of Defense was reluctant to the cooperation with Australia, worrying about irregular transfer of technology, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged the ministry to take positive attitude in cooperation with Australia.

For Japan, joining the training means to sneak into the core of military operation, which Japan has long been yearning. In Iraq War, Japan sent its officers to the coalition headquarter of Central Command. But, they were appalled in the command, because they could not participated in the information link of the coalition. Embracing that traumatic alienation in CENTCOM, Japanese Self-defense Force has been believing that real alliance is to join secret community over important military information.

Enhancing military relationship with Australia is closely related to Abe’s political agenda of passing new security legislation, including constitutional reinterpretation for exercising collective self-defense right. Stronger alliance brings greater responsibility to each participant. To help Australia in a contingency, Abe would stress the need for flexible legislature for activities of Japanese Self-defense Force.

But it is not clear that Australia, as well as U.S., will be helpful in a contingency against China over Japan’s territory. Distant from conflicts in Northeast Asia and having vital economic relationship with China, Australia may consider whether joining war between Japan and China will promote its national interest. So, Japan is cooperating Australia with a negative choice, believing it to be an only option.

Option of Visit to China

After a long-time impasse, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe makes an attempt for paying off his debt in the bilateral relationship with China. Asahi Shimbun reported on Saturday that Abe has been considering a visit to China for direct meeting with Chinese President, Xi Jinping, early September. If he is successful in making it happen, it will be a significant gain for his political power basis.

Xi administration has shown its willingness to invite Abe to the seventieth memorial of victory against Japan on September 3^rd. Although it is unlikely for a former enemy to participate in such a ceremony, as well as German attendance to the Victory Day of Russia,” Abe reportedly told his staffs that he did not want to escape from the invitation from China. Because it is obvious that the conservatives in Japan will oppose Abe’s attendance to the ceremony on the memorial day, he is looking for another timing around September 3^rd.

Abe is in need of popularity this summer. Protest against security legislature is swelling as its unconstitutionality appears to be undeniable. In a survey of Asahi to 122 scholars on constitutional study, 104 replied that the bills were unconstitutional and it was only 2 who answered that the bills were constitutional. Abe administration is also going forward to resuming the reactors in Sendai Nuclear Power Plant later this month, which may cause firm opposition from the public.

Abe seeks an opportunity to offset this negative environment. In a meeting with lawmakers involved in the relationship with South Korea, Abe expressed his willingness to include “reflection to former war” in his statement for the seventieth anniversary from the end of war. “I will overwhelmingly succeed the statements of former Premiers. Based on it, I’m going to express reflection to the former war and report Japan’s post-war advance as a peaceful nation,” told Abe. It will also be a massage to China that he is trying to improve the relationship through an appropriate view to the history.

For Xi, meeting with Abe will work as propaganda to the world of its generous diplomacy. If he can improve the relationship with Abe, it will be another diplomatic card against United States, which Xi plans to visit late September.

One crucial element is discussion over security legislation in the Diet. It will face a strong opposition in early September, when the discussion in the House of Councillors will be reaching a peak. It is unclear whether Abe can compensate his loss in unilateral procedure in the Diet with diplomatic success in this fall, anyway.

Empty Profits

Under inappropriate orders from top managers, a major electric appliance manufacturers, Toshiba, has been manipulating its financial balance for years. The company included ¥200 billion of fictitious profit in its financial report for five years until 2014, pretending to be stable in its management. Toshiba is losing its credibility as one of the appliance giants such as Panasonic, Hitachi or Sony.

Toshiba announced that it added ¥50 billion of fictitious profit from infrastructure business on its balance for three years until March 2014 and its president apologized to stockholders in its annual general meeting last month. After internal investigation, inappropriate accounting swelled up to ¥200 billion and the company established investigation committee consisted with third-party experts. The committee is submitting a report mid-July.

The most responsible for the scandal is former president and current deputy chairman, Norio Sasaki. After taking the seat of president in 2009, Sasaki promoted business on nuclear generation. He led the project of taking over Westinghouse in 2006 and targeted ¥1 trillion of sales by 2015. The goal was abolished, however, after the great earthquake and serious accident in a nuclear plant in Fukushima in 2011. To hide the damage of it, Toshiba committed inappropriate accounting in every part of its business.

According to investigation by the committee so far, Sasaki broadly ordered to manipulate the accounting in internal meeting or through e-mails. Then vice-presindent and current president, Hisao Tanaka, is also suspected as deeply committed in the process of the order. Fictitious profit was found in major sections, including semiconductor, Regza-brand television or laptop computer named Dynabook.

With declined credibility as a company, Toshiba might as well be facing a difficulty of money procurement from banks. There is a possibility of uneasiness of procurement through corporate bond in the market. Toshiba is going to ask its main banks to set a framework of accommodation as big as ¥500 billion. Meanwhile, the company considers selling out a part of its assets and cutting off its unprofitable sections. While the situation is not very fatal for Toshiba, its management will face unusual disadvantage.

The greatest mistake Toshiba committed was that its leadership thought they could operate their business within the closed community. Their way of thinking is close to that of the residents in “atomic village,” which occupied information about nuclear power generation. The great earthquake revealed underground nature of Japanese economy.

Leaving Wide Support Behind

The leading coalition, Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, gave up an option of broadening the support for new security legislature. Seeing delay of decision by Innovation Party to join approval by leading parties, LDP fixed the schedule that they would pass the bill at the special committee in the House of Representatives next Wednesday. The opposite parties will strictly protest against unilateral procedure in the Diet. It is obvious that supporting rate of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will significantly decline after the showdown, eroding the political basis of the administration.

To avoid negative impact on the administration, Abe has been seeking support from Innovation Party on the security bills. However, Innovation Party is an aggregation of a despotic local leader and his henchmen and deserters from ailing Democratic Party of Japan. It is basically unlikely that the party can make integrated decision on an important issue like security legislature.

In the discussion over collective action against great power of leading parties, Innovation Party and DPJ have repeatedly made an agreement and its dismissal. While some right wing lawmakers in Innovation Party wanted to join the vote for approval in the Diet, others tried to extend timing of the voting as late as possible. After a breaking off on cooperation, the leaders of both parties agreed on submitting alternative bills for patrolling maritime territory, finding a common ground against LDP leadership.

LDP dropped an option of getting support from Innovation Party, because of tightness of schedule. Constitution of Japan gives power to House of Representative to revote for a bill, when House of Councillors does not determine its attitude sixty days after receiving the bill from another House. To take advantage of that rule, LDP needs to pass the bill in House of Representatives by July 29^th. To make the passage of the bills sure, LDP had to decide unilateral action on the bill.

Polls have shown that overwhelming part of the nation thinks discussion over security legislation is not sufficient. It is a basic demand of Abe administration to persuade the people about the necessity of new security measures. As discussion in the committee goes, problems in the bills appeared to the public. It is unnecessary for Japanese government to have power to exercise collective self-defense to protect its territory or maintain Japan-U.S. alliance.

If the leading parties pass the bills with unilateral approval, public will accuse undemocratic decision, losing credibility on security policy of Abe administration. Along with doubt on economic policy caused by European uncertainty in market economy, Abe may face serious downfall this fall.

Fuel Rods Reloaded

Kyushu Electric Power Company started reloading nuclear fuel rods in the First Unit of Sendai Nuclear Power Plant on Tuesday. It was the first attempt for resuming nuclear power generation after the strict regulation had been applied to all the nuclear power plants in Japan two years ago. While the plant is supposed to resume its operation mid-August, basic concern on safety of nuclear power generation is left behind.

Kyushu Electric Power Company is setting one hundred fifty-seven fuel rods into the rector within four days. After loading them, the company will have practice for emergency and repeat tests for the facility. Restarting date the reactor is set to be August 10^th and it will begin to generate electricity three days later. The Second Unit of Sendai is planned to resume in October.

Receiving a request for resumption of Sendai Plant from Kyushu Electric Power Company, Nuclear Regulation Authority issued “judgment,” which admitted fulfillment of regulative requirements in two units in Sendai last September. Leading all other nuclear plants in Japan, Sendai received two approvals needed for resumption in May and passed the exam.

Shinzo Abe administration has been promoting resumption of nuclear power generation for encouraging economic growth. Worrying about negative impacts from decline of Abenomics, the administration is more dependent on nuclear power as main engine of Japan economy. “We promote resumption of nuclear power generation with approval from Nuclear Regulation Authority,” told Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga. Chairman of Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, Sadayuki Sakakibara, also welcomed long-awaited resumption of Sendai plant.

However, there is no change in the situation that Sendai Plant is surrounded by active calderas. There is a record that a pyroclastic flow has reached the place where the plant is located. Most experts on volcanic study warn the uncertainty in prediction of volcanic eruption. People around the plant have fundamental concern on evacuation plan in emergency. Most people within thirty kilometers from the plant will have to stay home, if nuclear accident occurs.

Before stepping into resumption of nuclear power generation in Japan, the government has to completely remove the concern among the people. Most people in Japan know that there is no place to stock nuclear waste in Japan. Political leaders need to show a whole vision to deal with nuclear power viable enough for the future.

Voices against Security Bills

The Special Committee on Security Legislation in the House of Representatives held a local hearing in Naha, Okinawa, on Monday. Three witnesses recommended by the opposite parties argued unequivocal opposition to the bills, while the two selected by leading party even expressed deep concern on them. Although it is obvious that those opinions will undemocratically be ignored by Shinzo Abe administration, consecutive criticisms against the bills are eroding political basis of Abe.

Local hearings are mandated for discussion over important bills in committees. However, there is no binding rule for the committee to implement the opinions in the hearing. While the leading parties agreed on having one in Okinawa for some reason, it is obvious that they preferred to make a progress in the routine process of the committee, even how critical opinions would be coming up from Okinawa.

The opposite parties chose firm opponents; Susumu Inamine, Mayor of Nago city where new U.S. Marine base is being built, and Masahide Ota, former Governor of Okinawa when relocation of Futenma Air Base was agreed on, and Tomokazu Takamine, former president of Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper.

Inamine warned that the risk of Okinawa being targeted would be raised by new security legislations. “It is not only me who thinks that Okinawa will become a battlefield again. The bills should immediately be withdrawn,” told Inamine. “Although security is important, Okinawa has been left as a sacrificed stone by mainland Japan,” told Ota, drawing hard experience of Okinawa before, during and after World War II.

Attitude of Liberal Democratic Party to Okinawa was another topic. On discriminative discussion against Okinawa by LDP young lawmakers, Takamine strongly criticized it. “I see a concept among people in Abe administration or some politicians that human rights are nothing under the requirement of national security. It is awful,” told Takamine.

Recommended by a leading party, Yoshitaka Nakayama, Mayor of Ishigaki city, within which Senkaku Islands are located, also expressed a concern that understanding on the security bills are not spread enough to the people. “Once collective self-defense rights are positively allowed, there is a possibility that Japan will be drawn in someone’s war. It is very dangerous,” told Keishun Koja, Mayor of Nanjo, who was also recommended by a leading party.

It is clear that Okinawa overwhelmingly opposes the security legislation. It is not an eccentric opinion in a region far away from Tokyo, but common notion of the public. Most people realizes that reinterpretation of the Constitution is a bad doping to be a macho country.

Lesson of One-day Delay

The winning point was reduced from three to one in the last moment. It is not about World Cup Soccer, but diplomacy over cultural heritage. United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization decided to register “the remains of industrial revolution in Japan in Meiji era” to World Cultural Heritage on Sunday. Defending against the argument from South Korea that the facilities had been places for forced labor of the Koreans, Japan made a compromise to approve that inconvenient fact related to the remains. Diplomacy based on domestic complacency was dismissed again in the international society.

Japanese students learn in history class that industrial progress in Meiji era was a symbol of getting rid of its old feudalism and made foundation of modern Japan as a developed country in Asia. Japanese government recommended twenty-three industrial facilities, including Mitsubishi Shipyard in Nagasaki or government own ironworks in Kitakyushu, for World Cultural Heritages two years ago.

Soon after a consultation committee of UNESCO recommended those facilities for World Heritage in this May, South Korea opposed the candidacy, raising the negative history of forced labor. After competitive lobbying both by Japan and South Korea, World Heritage Committee of UNESCO postponed the decision of registration from Saturday to Sunday, urging concrete agreement between those disputers.

The reason why Japan was reluctant to admit the forced labor was simple. Japanese government thought that the Koreans would raise further demands of compensation for human trafficking from Korean Peninsula, once Japan accept the argument of South Korea. Japanese bureaucrats can only recognize things through benefits and losses of money.

With calculation of negative impact on historical dispute between the two nations, Japan decided to accept Korean argument. Japanese delegation released a statement to make clear the history that many people in Korean Peninsula was send to Japan against their will and forced hard labor under deteriorated environment in some facilities. It was a promise to abide by a recommendation from UNESCO that Japan would need to make an effort to explain the whole history of the old facilities.

Once a Japanese Prime Minister revision history of international relations as he likes, every nation can do the same thing. Undermining international mutual understanding, like questioning the facts on comfort women, may cause backlashes from international society, which may lead to another defeat. It is important for the Japanese in being proud of its own history to consider its impact on the others.