Change of guards in Japan
Yuba Nath Lamsal
Yoshiko Noda, former finance minister, has been elected new Prime Minister
of Japan to replace Naoto Kan, who stepped down from the post acknowledging
his failure to tackle some of the challenges his country faced over the last
one year. Noda won the leadership of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan
(DPJ) on Monday and was formally installed by Diet, parliament, on Tuesday
as the 60th prime minister and the third since the DPJ won election in
September 2009.
Noda's predecessor Naoto Kan, who resigned on August 26 amidst widespread
public pressure and protest against his government's mishandling of several
issues ranging from economic downturn and joblessness to the nuclear
disaster and reconstruction in the areas where earthquake and tsunami hit
hard last year. Kan's period is best known as the biggest failure on the
part of the government in handling the issues directly related to the
people. There had already been disgruntlement in his own party about his
ability to handle the crises that Japan was facing. Some of his detractors
within his own DPJ party had been pressing for leadership change right after
Kan assumed the office of Japan's 59th prime minister.
Although he had successfully scuttled the pressure and threat to revolt from
his detractors, his mishandling of public affairs specially after last
year's worst earthquake and tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster was a
political disaster for the DPJ. Sensing the simmering plan to revolt against
his leadership, Kan had promised to step down in last April. However, this
announcement was seen by his opponents within DPJ as a ploy to placate the
dissent in the party and prolong his rule. He was finally forced to step
down following an open challenge and threat from a powerful faction within
the DPJ to support even an opposition-sponsored non-confidence motion in
parliament.
The DPJ is composed of several factions and groups. Kan and Noda belong to
rival camps within the DPJ. In contrast to Kan's policy, Noda is known as
an advocate of austerity measures and broader unity in the fractured DPJ to
enable the party to deal with a national crisis of a strong yen and
deflation. He wants speedy disaster recovery and reconstruction especially
in areas devastated by earthquake and tsunami and also Fukushima nuclear
disaster.
Noda takes over a party deeply divided on fundamental economic and foreign
policy issues and also takes the rein of the country that is beset with
several problems and challenges. However, he seems to be more determined and
mature to deal with these challenges and put Japan back on the global
spotlight and competitive edge.
In the race for the leadership of the party, Noda defeated trade minister
Banri Kaieda, the favored candidate of party strongman Ichiro Ozawa, by a
big margin. Noda secured 215 votes against 177 his rival got in the second
round of voting that took place last Monday. In the first round of election,
there were five candidates in the fray but none got the majority. As per the
party statute, if no candidate gets clear cut majority in the first round of
election, the second round of voting is to be held between the two
candidates who get the highest and second highest votes. In the first round
of election, Kaieda was in the forefront with 143 votes against 102 of Noda.
In the second round the equation in the party changed and Noda emerged
victorious with support from other factions.
The second round of election reflects the fierce rivalry and competition
among different factions in the DPJ. Some tend to bill this election as a
showdown between conservatives and liberals which have sharp differences on
approaches to bring Japan's economic growth back on tract, tackle properly
the deepening global financial crisis, balance Japan's relations with China
and US. The growing strategic and power rivalry between China and USA
especially in the South China Sea has also impacted Japan's policy. China is
Japan's largest economic partner and the US is its longstanding strategic
ally. Japan's future depends more on balancing its relations between these
two global powers.
Foreign and trade policies often play important role in Japan's politics.
Until recently, Japan had monopoly in the trade in East Asia. With China
emerging as a global economic power, China has become an important trade
partner of Japan. Backed by economic growth, China is also slowly started
its assertiveness in global affairs and accordingly is strengthening its
military power mainly in its neighborhood. Recently China has reinforced its
presence in South China Sea which is its legitimate claim. Since the World
War II, the United States has taken the responsibility of security of Japan
and some East Asian countries. United States has so far maintaining its
monopoly in East Asia and the Pacific region in terms of military presence.
Backed by aircraft careers in the Pacific, Indian Ocean and South China Sea,
the presence of the United States had been unchallengeable. Even during the
heydays of Soviet Union, the US military presence in East Asia and the
Pacific could not be challenged. However, China has not only modernized its
military but also has increased in the South China Sea, which is its own
neighborhood and legitimate domain. This has been taken as a security threat
by the United States. Japan has been caught in the crossfire in the rivalry
between China and the United States. The recent change of guards in the
Japanese governments is, therefore, seen as a reflection of US-China power
rivalry in Asia-Pacific region.
Kan's faction is known for its pro-China policies and closer relationship
with Beijing. It wants stimulus package to lift Japan's economy from slump.
On these promises, DPJ got landslide victory in the general election in 2009
ending a half-century's monopoly over power of Liberal Democratic Party
(LDP). Kan played important role in the victory of DPJ in 2009 parliamentary
election because Kan's key ally, Yukio Hatoyama, was the leader of the
party. After the election Hatoyama was elected as the prime minister of
Japan. Hatoyama's premiership lasted less than a year because his promises
to expand social spending came into direct conflict with growing global
demands for austerity to deal with the worsening debt crisis. Despite
playing important role in ensuring party's victory, Hatoyama had to step
down facilitating ground for Kan to rise to the party's leadership and
country's premiership. However, Kan's premiership, too, was short-lived as
he had to step down within a year under stiff protest and pressure from his
own party colleagues.
The new prime minister of Japan is pro-US and wants stronger and closer
economic and strategic relations with the United States than China. Kan
faction favors closer relations with China which had provoked Washington
seeking Kan's ouster from the seat of power in Tokyo. Kan's resignation and
Noda's rise to power in Japan's politics is being billed as a victory of
conservatives and defeat liberals in DPJ. From external and international
perspective, United States emerged winner in Tokyo's power tussle in Tokyo
while Beijing lost its friend in Japan's political power.
As a pro-American, Noda is likely to follow Washington's aggressive policy
against China. He is highly critical of Beijing's assertive role in the
Asia-Pacific region especially in the South China Sea. Tensions have already
run high in the East Asian region with China increasing its presence in
South China Sea challenging the long monopoly of the United States. In
addition, Beijing's claim over some tiny islands has also provoked some
other East Asian coastal countries like Indonesia, the Philippines and
Vietnam alike. Backed by Washington some East Asian countries have staked
counter maritime claim in the South China Sea, which has been a source of
tension in the region.
Back home, Noda wants removal of pacifist clause in the constitution that
bars Japan to use military in the settlement of international disputes and
protect Japan's national interest abroad. Noda advocates Japan's pro-active
role in the international politics for which Japan needs a strong army.
Against this background, rise of hawkish prime minister in Japan would
definitely contribute to escalate tension between US and
Noda's rise to power in Japan and his remarks have sent mixed signals to
the world. While Washington is pleased with the decision, it has sent a
different message to Beijing and Seoul. While Seoul has watched the
developments in Tokyo with caution, Beijing has reacted saying "The new
Japanese government needs to start to appreciate the undisputed fact that a
deeply-troubled China-Japan relationship and dire mistrust would by no means
serve the interests of either side, not to mention that of the region and
the world as a whole."
Whatever the rhetoric, Noda's term as prime minister is also likely to be as
brief as that of his two predecessors. The DPJ is a divided house and the
power struggle among factions in the party would not let Noda to continue as
prime minister for a long time. Moreover, the DPJ has been unpopular among
ordinary Japanese people due to its inability to tackle several key issues
and problems that Japan has been confronted with in recent years. At best
Noda would continue as prime minister until September 2012 when the party's
regular leadership election is scheduled to take place.
So far as Nepal is concerned, the change of government in Japan will have no
impact in the bilateral relations. Japan is a key donor and development
partner of Nepal and there would not be any significant change in the Nepal
policy. As Nepal, too, has a new government, it expects more meaningful ties
and increased cooperation with Japan under Noda's leadership in the years
ahead.
Yoshiko Noda, former finance minister, has been elected new Prime Minister
of Japan to replace Naoto Kan, who stepped down from the post acknowledging
his failure to tackle some of the challenges his country faced over the last
one year. Noda won the leadership of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan
(DPJ) on Monday and was formally installed by Diet, parliament, on Tuesday
as the 60th prime minister and the third since the DPJ won election in
September 2009.
Noda's predecessor Naoto Kan, who resigned on August 26 amidst widespread
public pressure and protest against his government's mishandling of several
issues ranging from economic downturn and joblessness to the nuclear
disaster and reconstruction in the areas where earthquake and tsunami hit
hard last year. Kan's period is best known as the biggest failure on the
part of the government in handling the issues directly related to the
people. There had already been disgruntlement in his own party about his
ability to handle the crises that Japan was facing. Some of his detractors
within his own DPJ party had been pressing for leadership change right after
Kan assumed the office of Japan's 59th prime minister.
Although he had successfully scuttled the pressure and threat to revolt from
his detractors, his mishandling of public affairs specially after last
year's worst earthquake and tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster was a
political disaster for the DPJ. Sensing the simmering plan to revolt against
his leadership, Kan had promised to step down in last April. However, this
announcement was seen by his opponents within DPJ as a ploy to placate the
dissent in the party and prolong his rule. He was finally forced to step
down following an open challenge and threat from a powerful faction within
the DPJ to support even an opposition-sponsored non-confidence motion in
parliament.
The DPJ is composed of several factions and groups. Kan and Noda belong to
rival camps within the DPJ. In contrast to Kan's policy, Noda is known as
an advocate of austerity measures and broader unity in the fractured DPJ to
enable the party to deal with a national crisis of a strong yen and
deflation. He wants speedy disaster recovery and reconstruction especially
in areas devastated by earthquake and tsunami and also Fukushima nuclear
disaster.
Noda takes over a party deeply divided on fundamental economic and foreign
policy issues and also takes the rein of the country that is beset with
several problems and challenges. However, he seems to be more determined and
mature to deal with these challenges and put Japan back on the global
spotlight and competitive edge.
In the race for the leadership of the party, Noda defeated trade minister
Banri Kaieda, the favored candidate of party strongman Ichiro Ozawa, by a
big margin. Noda secured 215 votes against 177 his rival got in the second
round of voting that took place last Monday. In the first round of election,
there were five candidates in the fray but none got the majority. As per the
party statute, if no candidate gets clear cut majority in the first round of
election, the second round of voting is to be held between the two
candidates who get the highest and second highest votes. In the first round
of election, Kaieda was in the forefront with 143 votes against 102 of Noda.
In the second round the equation in the party changed and Noda emerged
victorious with support from other factions.
The second round of election reflects the fierce rivalry and competition
among different factions in the DPJ. Some tend to bill this election as a
showdown between conservatives and liberals which have sharp differences on
approaches to bring Japan's economic growth back on tract, tackle properly
the deepening global financial crisis, balance Japan's relations with China
and US. The growing strategic and power rivalry between China and USA
especially in the South China Sea has also impacted Japan's policy. China is
Japan's largest economic partner and the US is its longstanding strategic
ally. Japan's future depends more on balancing its relations between these
two global powers.
Foreign and trade policies often play important role in Japan's politics.
Until recently, Japan had monopoly in the trade in East Asia. With China
emerging as a global economic power, China has become an important trade
partner of Japan. Backed by economic growth, China is also slowly started
its assertiveness in global affairs and accordingly is strengthening its
military power mainly in its neighborhood. Recently China has reinforced its
presence in South China Sea which is its legitimate claim. Since the World
War II, the United States has taken the responsibility of security of Japan
and some East Asian countries. United States has so far maintaining its
monopoly in East Asia and the Pacific region in terms of military presence.
Backed by aircraft careers in the Pacific, Indian Ocean and South China Sea,
the presence of the United States had been unchallengeable. Even during the
heydays of Soviet Union, the US military presence in East Asia and the
Pacific could not be challenged. However, China has not only modernized its
military but also has increased in the South China Sea, which is its own
neighborhood and legitimate domain. This has been taken as a security threat
by the United States. Japan has been caught in the crossfire in the rivalry
between China and the United States. The recent change of guards in the
Japanese governments is, therefore, seen as a reflection of US-China power
rivalry in Asia-Pacific region.
Kan's faction is known for its pro-China policies and closer relationship
with Beijing. It wants stimulus package to lift Japan's economy from slump.
On these promises, DPJ got landslide victory in the general election in 2009
ending a half-century's monopoly over power of Liberal Democratic Party
(LDP). Kan played important role in the victory of DPJ in 2009 parliamentary
election because Kan's key ally, Yukio Hatoyama, was the leader of the
party. After the election Hatoyama was elected as the prime minister of
Japan. Hatoyama's premiership lasted less than a year because his promises
to expand social spending came into direct conflict with growing global
demands for austerity to deal with the worsening debt crisis. Despite
playing important role in ensuring party's victory, Hatoyama had to step
down facilitating ground for Kan to rise to the party's leadership and
country's premiership. However, Kan's premiership, too, was short-lived as
he had to step down within a year under stiff protest and pressure from his
own party colleagues.
The new prime minister of Japan is pro-US and wants stronger and closer
economic and strategic relations with the United States than China. Kan
faction favors closer relations with China which had provoked Washington
seeking Kan's ouster from the seat of power in Tokyo. Kan's resignation and
Noda's rise to power in Japan's politics is being billed as a victory of
conservatives and defeat liberals in DPJ. From external and international
perspective, United States emerged winner in Tokyo's power tussle in Tokyo
while Beijing lost its friend in Japan's political power.
As a pro-American, Noda is likely to follow Washington's aggressive policy
against China. He is highly critical of Beijing's assertive role in the
Asia-Pacific region especially in the South China Sea. Tensions have already
run high in the East Asian region with China increasing its presence in
South China Sea challenging the long monopoly of the United States. In
addition, Beijing's claim over some tiny islands has also provoked some
other East Asian coastal countries like Indonesia, the Philippines and
Vietnam alike. Backed by Washington some East Asian countries have staked
counter maritime claim in the South China Sea, which has been a source of
tension in the region.
Back home, Noda wants removal of pacifist clause in the constitution that
bars Japan to use military in the settlement of international disputes and
protect Japan's national interest abroad. Noda advocates Japan's pro-active
role in the international politics for which Japan needs a strong army.
Against this background, rise of hawkish prime minister in Japan would
definitely contribute to escalate tension between US and
Noda's rise to power in Japan and his remarks have sent mixed signals to
the world. While Washington is pleased with the decision, it has sent a
different message to Beijing and Seoul. While Seoul has watched the
developments in Tokyo with caution, Beijing has reacted saying "The new
Japanese government needs to start to appreciate the undisputed fact that a
deeply-troubled China-Japan relationship and dire mistrust would by no means
serve the interests of either side, not to mention that of the region and
the world as a whole."
Whatever the rhetoric, Noda's term as prime minister is also likely to be as
brief as that of his two predecessors. The DPJ is a divided house and the
power struggle among factions in the party would not let Noda to continue as
prime minister for a long time. Moreover, the DPJ has been unpopular among
ordinary Japanese people due to its inability to tackle several key issues
and problems that Japan has been confronted with in recent years. At best
Noda would continue as prime minister until September 2012 when the party's
regular leadership election is scheduled to take place.
So far as Nepal is concerned, the change of government in Japan will have no
impact in the bilateral relations. Japan is a key donor and development
partner of Nepal and there would not be any significant change in the Nepal
policy. As Nepal, too, has a new government, it expects more meaningful ties
and increased cooperation with Japan under Noda's leadership in the years
ahead.
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