ニュース 2009/02/26 Lower House Budget Committee: DPJ Member Maehara Stresses that a Change of Government is Required to Strengthen Japan's Diplomacy On February 26, debate in the Lower House Budget Committee focused on diplomacy. DPJ Vice President Seiji Maehara rose to ask questions, pressing the Prime Minister and other Cabinet ministers to explain the content and results of the leaders' summit between Japan and the US. He also engaged in debate on the nature and importance of the Japan-US alliance and on Japan's national security policy. Referring to the Japan-US leaders' summit, Maehara said, "Many Japanese citizens were left with a very indefinite impression [of what was gained from the meeting]." He pointed out that it was "difficult to understand" how the Prime Minister could "meet Russian president Medvedev and show his desire to solve the long-standing problem of Japan's Northern Territories, and discuss the future with the new president of the US, our most important partner" when various opinion polls show the cabinet's approval rating of around only 10%, when even members of the LDP are publicly calling for the Aso Cabinet to resign, and when there is only around six months left until the current House of Representatives term comes to an end. Maehara went on to say that "in the raw battleground of international power politics it feels to me very strange that a Prime Minister who, if I may be so rude, is a lame duck, is actively engaging in diplomacy. This will damage our national interest." In response, Prime Minister Aso defended himself saying, "As Prime Minister of Japan, as a representative of the country chosen through due process, it is entirely natural that I engage in negotiations with other nations". Maehara strongly criticized Aso's position saying that "in diplomacy, it is natural for [other nations] to look closely at how far the Prime Minister is trusted and whether or not he has a solid base" before adding that "the best way to break out of this economic crisis, a once-in-a-century occurrence, would be to go to the polls as soon as possible so that an administration which has the backing of the people and a Prime Minister who is on a solid footing can engage in diplomacy". The Prime Minister refused to back down saying that "deciding when to dissolve the Diet is the sole prerogative of the Prime Minister and I will make my decision". In response to a further question about whether the purchase by Japan of US Treasury securities was discussed in the meeting with President Obama, the Prime Minister replied "not at all". Maehara then went on to state that the time was now coming for Japan to think about achieving greater autonomy rather than over-reliance on the United States. He said that as well as debating the degree to which Japan depends on the US for its national security, he said that he would also like to exchange opinions on future strategies for national security, diplomacy, Japan-US relations and Japan-US-China relations. Maehara categorized three types of national security emergency response Japan must consider: defense against missile attacks from North Korea, responses to all types of terrorism, and responses to an invasion of Japan's outlying islands. During the debate over missile defense, Maehara asked whether Japan had "the capability to retaliate" in the event of a missile strike by North Korea. Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada responded, "We have no effective way to strike at enemy bases". When asked by Maehara whether "in the absence of such a capability, Japan would therefore call on America to exercise collective self-defense based on the Japan-US security treaty", the Defense Minister replied, "Of course that is what we would do". Following the Prime Minister's remarks that the Senkaku Islands issue "is not a territorial dispute because the islands are Japanese territory", Maehara agreed with the Prime Minister that "[the islands] are an undisputed part of Japanese territory and therefore this is not a territorial issue. Obviously Japan must continue to protect the sovereignty [of the islands]." Maehara then asked the Prime Minister whether the islands are covered under the scope of Article 5 of the Japan-US Security Treaty which allows Japan to demand the US exercise the right of collective self-defense. After the Prime Minister replied that "the islands are an integral part of Japanese territory and therefore they are subject to [Article 5]", Maehara strongly stressed the need for the Japanese government to officially confirm this position with the US saying, "I would very much like you to officially confirm this point as I believe the US is quite reluctant".