Romney care

Japan and South Korea always seem worried about how Washington values their alliances. They both believe that Republicans are better friends to these alliances than Democrats. Republicans are less likely to examine the gaps in social and cultural values between the countries in favor of all things security.

On Friday, October 7, Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney gave his first major foreign policy speech. He advocated a strong defense establishment bolstered by America's god-given right to lead:

God did not create this country to be a nation of followers. America is not destined to be one of several equally balanced global powers. America must lead the world, or someone else will. Without American leadership, without clarity of American purpose and resolve, the world becomes a far more dangerous place, and liberty and prosperity would surely be among the first casualties.

For Japan and South Korea, however, the speech was not comforting. Neither alliance caught his attention:

And I will bolster and repair our alliances. Our friends should never fear that we will not stand by them in an hour of need. I will reaffirm as a vital national interest Israel’s existence as a Jewish state. I will count as dear our Special Relationship with the United Kingdom. And I will begin talks with Mexico, to strengthen our cooperation on our shared problems of drugs and security.

Prior to the speech, the Romney campaign released its team of foreign policy advisers. A lot of huff and puff from a lot of short men it seems.

Peacekeeping in Afghanistan

As Japan debates its role in Afghanistan, it may want to examine two decisions made last week by American allies.

The first is that the Germans have accepted the conclusion of a NATO investigation on an airstrike ordered by German commanders against a pair of hijacked Afghan tanker trucks that confirmed the attack as appropriate. The second is Seoul’s agreement to reintroduce Korean troops into Afghanistan to guard their aid workers.

Both allies are adjusting their policies to the realities of the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan. They now “protect” their humanitarian and reconstruction efforts. They will pursue "peacekeeping" by all mean.

Like Japan, Germany is constitutionally forbidden to participate in any war, unless as an act of defense. And like Japan, Germany’s history makes its people hesitate in any use of force. This restraint is slowly giving way to the demands of modern counter-insurgency. The German-ordered air strike and a change in their rules of engagement to not wait until they are fired upon are examples of this change.

The South Koreans had pulled out of Afghanistan two years ago after Korean Christian missionaries were kidnapped and two murdered. On Friday, October 30th, the South Korea government announced that it would expand its reconstruction team now helping to rebuild Afghanistan to 130 to 150 workers (from 25). A Foreign Ministry spokesman emphasized that “Our troops will not engage in battles except for the security of our workers and for self-defense,” Mr. Moon said.

The Japanese I have met who focus on Japan’s Afghan policy are convinced that they can be “honest brokers” in the region. They believe the Japanese are perceived as apart from the Americans. Thus, they plan to send aid workers in unarmed to the less restive areas. And they are committed to working with all parties to create a safer Afghanistan, claiming to have developed ties with even the Taliban.

The Times questions if Americans will ultimately fight one kind of war and their allies another. Yet the open-ended and escalating war may require a fundamental reconsideration of our allies’ no-combat principles. As the Times notes “The Germans may not have gone to war, but now the war has come to them.”

New York Times Online Today

Hatoyama's Japan

Published: September 9, 2009, The New York Times, Letter to the Editor

Yukio Hatoyama (“A new path for Japan,” Views, Aug. 27) indicated a desire to move Japan closer to Asia and an intention to adjust the U.S.-Japan relationship to that of two equals.

Implicit in this shift is Mr. Hatoyama’s desire for Japan to play a large role in building a more cohesive and influential Asia. But Japan is still a country burdened heavily with debts from the past.

As Mr. Hatoyama, who is likely to become the next prime minister of Japan, navigates through the rivalry between the United States and China, he should keep in mind that no matter how hard Japan may want to play a meaningful role in Asia, to the eyes of so many Asians, Japan’s leaders too often look back to its imperialistic past with considerable nostalgia.

In order to bring Asia together, Japan must first correct this.

Sung-Chull Junn, Seoul

Contemporary Korea

New York's Museum of Modern Art is featuring contemporary designers of South Korea in its gift shop. This is similar to an event focused on new design in Japan last year.

Destination Seoul presents a number of South Korea's imaginative product and crafts designers. You can see and buy the items for the home or to wear at the MOMA website.

It is refreshing not to see the same old quaint Asian handiwork. Americans are forever viewing Asia through its ancient arts. This certainly contributes to our distorted and often condescending view of the region. But sometimes I wonder if this is not the impression that Japan and Korea want to give. There is some political mileage left in maintaining exotic Asia. Its keeps expectations low. 

The Museum also has an ongoing series of new Asian cinema, ContemporAsian. Not your mother's Asia.