The Fukuda Doctrine

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 09/25/2007 3:18 PM | Opinion

Indonesia remains a very young and fragile democracy, compared to Japan's more established democracy. In nearly all aspects of life Indonesia lags far behind Japan.

However, watching from afar the closed-door maneuvering by Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to elect its new head -- who automatically becomes the country's new prime minister because the party holds the majority of seats in the Lower House -- many Indonesians feel luckier than the Japanese.

Although Indonesia only began to practice real democracy after Soeharto's fall in 1998, its people already have the final say on who gets to be president. How come Japan, the world's second most powerful economy after the United States, continues to restrict the rights of its citizens to directly elect their leader?

It is true that each country has its own political system, but when Indonesia, whose economy is still very much dependent on Japan, is so far ahead in practicing the one-man-one-vote principle, perhaps it is time for the Japanese people to ask: How did this happen?

It is true that many other developed countries have adopted a similar electoral system. But for Indonesians, being ahead of Japan in this regard is some small consolation for the economic hardships they must continue to endure.

Despite this, Japan remains the world's largest money lender through its Official Development Assistance (ODA) program. Its economic power remains pivotal for global economic growth, although China's economy is growing rapidly and will likely leapfrog Japan in the coming decades.

That is why the international community closely watched the election of senior politician Yasuo Fukuda as Japan's new prime minister on Sunday, replacing Shinzo Abe who abruptly resigned after about a year in power after the opposition won Upper House elections a few months ago.

Many doubt Fukuda will last any longer than Abe, but if people are satisfied with his leadership it is not out of the question that Fukuda will call for elections early next year.

Thirty years ago the father of the new prime minister, then prime minister Takeo Fukuda, articulated -- in what would later become known as the Fukuda Doctrine -- Japan's foreign policy cornerstone during a visit to Manila.

The ""heart-to-heart"" policy included the commitment that Japan would not re-emerge as a military power and that Japan would upgrade its ties with Southeast Asia.

Fukuda issued his policy three years after massive anti-Japanese riots during the visit of prime minister Kakuei Tanaka to the region in 1974.

Now the question on the Fukuda Doctrine has resurfaced.

While Japan's prime ministers have frequently reiterated their commitment to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), relations have not moved beyond economic interests, including investment and Official Development Assistance.

It is clear that Japan's top priorities are the United States, China and the two Koreas, while the country's relations with ASEAN often appear unbalanced because of Japan's greater economic might.

Indonesia, however, has great expectations for Fukuda, because he also chairs the Japan-Indonesia Association (Japinda). It has been nearly a decade since a top Japanese politician has paid special attention to Indonesia, since the death of Michio Watanabe.

Hopefully, when Indonesia and Japan commemorate the 50th anniversary of their friendship next year Fukuda will still be at the helm, so he can lead the celebration together with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

We hope that under Fukuda, Japan's relationship with Indonesia will not be disrupted by matters from the past. Fukuda has clearly indicated relations with China and the two Koreas will top his list of Asian priorities. We just hope he will include Indonesia on the list.

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