Fukuda Doctrine 2?

Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo delivered a dinner speech on May 22 at the 14th International Conference on "The Future of Asia" organized by the Nikkei.

In his speech entitled "When the Pacific Ocean Becomes an 'Inland Sea': Five Pledges to a Future Asia that Acts Together'," Prime Minister Fukuda spelt out the following five pledges regarding concrete areas that Japan intends to take in enhancing Asian growth.

First, to emphatically support ASEAN's efforts to realize a Community; second, to reinforce its alliance with the United States of America; third, to forge itself into a "Peace Fostering Nation;" fourth, to foster and strengthen infrastructure of Asia and the Pacific for intellectual and generational exchanges; fifth, to tackle climate change and establish a low-carbon society.

In concluding his speech, Prime Minister Fukuda said, "I will close my remarks today by saying that Japan and the Japanese people desire to forge bonds 'acting together' with the people living in this region as we strengthen 'heart to heart' trust."

Many observers claim that Fukuda Yasuo, in delivering his dinner speech on May 22, was very conscious of an important and historic speech delivered by his father, Fukuda Takeo in 1977--known as Fukuda Doctrine. Thus, it is anticipated that those five pledges by Fukuda Yasuo become Fukuda Doctrine 2 or New Fukuda Doctrine for the next 30 years!

Fukuda Doctrine (of 1977) constituted three pillars: firstly, Japan will never become a military power; secondly, Japan wants to develop a heart-to-heart relationship with ASEAN countries; and thirdly, Japan will cooperate in building a bridge between ASEAN countries and Indochina countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam).

Consequently, in retrospect, Fukuda Doctrine laid the foundation for Japan to engage with Indochina countries contructively. Particularly, Japan's proactive role in mediating Cambodia peace process, which consequently created the political environment conducive for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam to join ASEAN--and the formation of ASEAN-10 envisaged by the ASEAN's founding fathers.

In addition, in the last 30 years, Fukuda Doctrine has provided a platform for Japan to engage ASEAN-5 in building a mutually trusted relations, and also supporting ASEAN-5 economic development through ODA, and with private investment and trade. Fukuda Doctrine has thus encouraged Japanese private sector to work hand-in-hand with its government in promoting trade and investment in ASEAN. Most notably approach was that Japanese government concentrated its ODA to support physical infrastructures in ASEAN countries in order to faciliate Japanese private-sector's investments, which in turn has enhanced trade relations between Japan and ASEAN countries.

With the guide of hind-sights, let's hope in the next 30 years, the five pledges of Fukuda Doctrine 2 (or New Fukuda Doctrine) will bring about: a peaceful and stable Asia; an Asia which is greater than itself; and an Asia which is of a higher living standard.