Japan cutting itself off from trend of the times

In recent years, Japan has developed a penchant for confronting China over issues of regional and international significance even though China’s stance on these issues is fair and reasonable. Japan’s proposal of a strategic dialogue with leaders of the United States, India and Australia, announced by its Foreign Minister Taro Kono this week, is another example of this. According to Japanese media, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to float the idea to US President Donald Trump during his visit to the region next month.

As for the purpose of the Japanese proposal, Kono felt no need to cover up one of Japan’s objectives, telling Japanese media that the aim is to counter China’s expanding influence as a result of its Belt and Road Initiative.

Since the initiative was first proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013, it has won the support of more than 100 countries and international organizations, and more than 40 countries have signed cooperation agreements with China under the framework.

These countries and organizations have all recognized the immense opportunities offered by the initiative, which seeks to connect Asia with Europe and Africa and promote common development and shared prosperity.

The initiative has already reaped early harvests despite the sluggish global economic recovery, flagging international trade and a major backlash against globalization. As such, Japan’s intention to defame the China-proposed initiative this time is doomed to fail.

By unfairly putting an expansionist tag on the initiative, Japan is cutting itself off from the opportunities which the majority of countries have perceived in it. And it will have little effect in slowing the momentum with which the initiative is being rolled out since those that have less of a bias against China recognize it is a platform for nourishing inclusive growth.

However, due to its strained ties with China as a result of their territorial dispute and its concerns about having lost status because of China’s growing influence in the region, Japan has been ramping up its efforts to oppose China in regional and international issues.

Japan already has a trilateral strategic dialogue with Australia and the US, and one with India and the US, so by seeking to revive the old momentum for the so-called quad, it has also revealed its intention to try and hinder the efforts of China and the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to ease tensions in the South China Sea, which have recently made significant progress with the agreement on a framework for a Code of Conduct in the waters.

Tokyo should not try and push its own zero-sum agenda. Such a mentality, a legacy left over from the Cold War era, goes against the trend of the times which favors interconnected growth and shared prosperity.