One of the ironies in Japan-South Korea relations is that their identity politics over the historical issues continues to strain their overall bilateral ties. Will it change under the leadership of Premier Sanae Tadamichi in Japan?
Observers say Premier Takaichi is known to be a camp follower of Japan’s legendary Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. She is likely to follow her mentor Abe in almost all fields of national life, including in the area of its foreign policy. During his prime ministership Abe emphasized Japan’s bilateral agreements with South Korea and sought to build trust between the two nations on this ground.
In 2015, the Abe administration signed the comfort women agreement with its South Korean counterpart. Under this pact, Japan apologized for its role in the ordeals the Korean comfort women had to undergo during its colonial rule over the peninsular. Tokyo created a fund for the victims of the phenomenon. Prime Minister Abe also led Japan to have the General Security of Military Information Agreement with South Korea. However, Abe left the historical and territorial issues between the two nations largely unresolved.
The observers say the rise of populist nationalism in Japan (and South Korea) has continued to deepen friction between the two nations since long. The term, “nationalism” is an enlightened concept. It ought not to be detrimental to the interests of any other nation. The leaderships in Japan and South Korea need to properly define “nationalism” and practice it today.
The political leaderships in the two nations could use the internet and social media in this to bring ordinary people in the two nations into direct contact with each other. This could go a long way to promote enlightened version of nationalism and counter the existent bitter historical memories and state ideologies.
Tokyo and Seoul ought to bear in mind they need to settle their differences and focus on boosting peace and development in the region. In the post-World War II landscape, they could witness a dramatic transformation in their economies, mainly because there was a state of peace and stability in the region.
Tokyo and Japan may bear in mind that China today is emerging very fast as the world’s second largest economy and a burgeoning military power. China has had aggressive designs against them. The two nations face similar security challenges also from North Korea. So far they have relied on the United States to defend themselves. Continuing to do so may prove fatal in future. US President Donald J Trump seems to be seeking to establish some kind of condominium/ G-2 with Chinese supremo Xi Jinping. This might embolden Beijing to pursue its aggressive designs against Tokyo and Seoul. As such Japan and South Korea could better go in for a new treaty of friendship and cooperation.
Jagdish N Singh is a senior journalist based in New Delhi, India. He is also a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute