Introduction of the New Komei Party
First of all, I would like to present a brief introduction of the New Komei
Party. The New Komei Party is the third largest political party in Japan
with fifty-five
members in the National Diet and 3,200 members in the assemblies of prefectures
and municipalities. Our party has been part of the coalition government, along
with the Liberal Democratic Party, since 1999.
The original Komei Party was founded in 1964, based on social and political
movement by Soka Gakkai, the largest Buddhist lay organization in Japan. The
Party is
managed and operated independently of the religious organization, while we still
maintain close cooperation and it still consists one of the party’s major supporters.
During a major realignment of political parties in the 1990s, the Party was once
dissolved to form the New Frontier Party, but was reorganized as the current
New Komei Party in 1998.
The New Komei Party represents the interests of a diverse public, including
small
businesses and ordinary working people. We respect and have always supported
parliamentary democracy and free market economy, and have highly valued human
rights, including freedom of speech, beliefs, and religion. We especially emphasize
policies in areas of social security, education, culture, and environment, and
have won a high reputation for our pacifist principles.
Establishment of the East Asian Summit
I have participated in the last ICAPP general assembly held in Beijing, China
in 2004. Since then, there have been remarkable developments towards greater
economic and political cooperation and community building in the East Asian region.
Last December, the first East Asian Summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, where the
heads of states of 10 ASEAN states, Japan, China, Korea, India, Australia, and
New Zealand have participated. The EAS, as mentioned in the declaration, is designed
to function as a “forum for dialogue on broad strategic, political and economical
issues of common interest and concern with the aim of promoting peace, stability,
and economic prosperity in East Asia.” It is also mentioned in the declaration
that the EAS will be “an open, inclusive, transparent, and outward-looking forum
in which we strive to strengthen global norms and universally recognized values”
I support the basic idea and principles, as well as the major areas of focus,
agreed by the member states. The establishment of EAS was significant in that
it leads the way to promoting further integration and cooperation and lays the
foundation for community building in the region and could be a precedent for
wider community building covering all of Asia. I respect the enthusiasm and leadership
of the ASEAN states in the process of organizing the EAS, and expect that they
will continue to play a central role in the future.
The process for establishing EAS was promoted by the acknowledgement that the
regional economies and societies have become increasingly interlinked and interdependent,
and the realization that concerted regional efforts have become increasingly
necessary to respond to a wide range of challenges facing the world. Intra-regional
trade amounts over 2.8 trillion dollars, which is twice the size of trade within
NAFTA, and exceeds 50 percent of the total trade of the region. Moreover, the
economy of the region is experiencing the fastest growth in the world and is
now obviously the source of dynamism for world economy. Substantial results of
intra-regional cooperation have already been achieved in a wide range of areas,
including financial stability, non-traditional security issues, and human security
issues. Therefore, it may be said that it was, in a sense, natural and essential
for a sustained framework of regional dialogue and cooperation to be developed
in East Asia, based on cumulative results of cooperation to address respective
issues.
Principles and functions of the EAS
EAS should abide by the principles of transparency, openness and equal partnership.
Not only the sixteen participating states, but countries outside the region,
including other Asian countries and the US, have played important roles and should
be incorporated in various functions of regional cooperation. Rightly, the EAS
should promote and not inhibit active contribution by its member states to strengthening
multilateral economic and political institutions and arrangements.
While the ultimate goal of the EAS should be in community building and harmonization
of economic and legal systems in the region, like the European Union, they should
be perceived as long term goals, given the diversity of political system, culture
and history, and stages of development. Meanwhile the EAS should focus on functional
cooperation on various issues of common interest and concern. Areas of human
security, including prevention of infectious diseases, environment protection,
natural disaster mitigation, and countering terrorism and other non-traditional
security issues; and economic cooperation, including trade and investment expansion,
financial stability, and intellectual property protection; are important and
urgent issues that need to be addressed.
The EAS should aim to esteem and diffuse universal norms of democracy, freedom,
and human rights; and respect global rules and agreements. The EAS must be guided
by principles of restraint, respect and responsibility. Member states should
not interfere with domestic issues of other states, while member states should
be allowed to discuss problems and air grievances.
Japan’s role and contribution in community building
The New Komei Party supports the Japanese government’s efforts in expanding
regional cooperation and commitment towards community building in East Asia.
EAS, along
with other forums such as the ASEAN plus 3, APEC, and ARF, will be an important
framework in the community building process.
I believe that Japan, which has experienced the various stages of development
before other countries of the region, is capable and responsible of offering
useful contributions. Japan should offer opportunities to increase trade and
investment in the region, and thus contribute to economic development, through
continued commitment in promoting EPA/FTA arrangements. Japan has provided ODA
to most of the countries in the region and is intended to maintain necessary
financial and technical assistance, despite its serious domestic fiscal situation.
Japanese public and private sectors could promote transfer of technology in various
fields, including improvement of quality control and energy efficiency. They
could also offer important cooperation in elaboration of management skills, harmonization
of legal and economic frameworks, and introduction of good governance in both
public sectors and private enterprises.
Japan will always maintain its position as an equal partner within the East
Asian community, and will not intend to exercise excessive political influence
nor
strengthen its military power. In that context, it will respect and support the
ASEAN states to carry on the principal function in the community building process.
It is usually the case that relatively minor differences of opinions and interests
undermine the real necessity for cooperation. Therefore, determination and will
of politicians and political parties are indispensable in enhancing regional
cooperation and community building, overcoming difficulties. The ICAPP, I believe,
provides an excellent opportunity for better communication and mutual understanding
of political parties. I certainly hope that the ICAPP will become more active
and increase influence on policy making of the participating governments. |
