Japan-US 2+2 Meeting

Japanese and American Heads of Foreign Affairs and National Defense meet in Tokyo to discuss the threat of China

Tong Qian

BBC Chinese Net – Japan Special Correspondent

Last updated September 27^th, 2013 GMT 4:28 AM

Japan-America Foreign Relations - National Defense Heads 2 + 2 Meetings will take place in Tokyo on October 3^rd

Currently visiting New York, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida announced that on October 3^rd, Japan and the US will conduct the National Defense Head 2 + 2 meeting, formally amending the “Japan-US Defense Guide” agreement.

The two military allies Japan and the US established their foreign policy in 1960 by setting up the “Japan-US Security Council”, made up of the heads of National Defense, thus called the “2 + 2”, to meet at key times to discuss how Japan and the US should meet situations around the world, particularly those concerning military cooperation and movement in the Asia-Pacific.  Frequent topics for discussion include the “Japan-US Defense Guide” and the deployment of US trips in Japan.  

This meeting is the first since June of 2011.  It is expected that Japan will be represented by Kishida and Minister Onodera Itsunori, and the US will be represented by Secretary of State Kerry and Secretary of Defense Hagel.  Major topics include China’s military movements on the seas and North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons, the way missiles are changing the security environment in East Asia, and guidelines for how Japan and the US could effectively respond should an incident occur close to Japan.

In addition, the meeting plans to deal with the issues of moving the Okinawa military base and the planned “Osprey” exercises.

US not at ease

Since Shinzo Abe has established his administration, it is clear that the US has not been at ease regarding Abe’s diplomatic relations and policies with China.  Worried that Japan’s hard-line way of dealing with China will in the end make it difficult to avoid an armed conflict in the East China Sea, the US, which is already troubled by problems in the Middle East, does not wish for changes to overburden US finances.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is at present visiting New York, stated on Thursday at the UN General Meeting that maritime order mustn’t be changed by the use of force, and that Japan contributes “Positive Pacifism” to the world.  These statements may reflect that Abe has come to recognize the US’s unease.

China blames “Small people”

But concerning the disagreements between Abe’s government and China over territory and Chinese military vessels’ increased activities in the waters surrounding Japan, Abe has already started to strengthen the Coast Guard’s patrolling of the East China Sea and institutions for the Self-Defense Force in the southwest.  At present, the Ministry of Defense has already decided to use 12 billion yen (approximately $1 million US) to establish facilities on Iwojima that would monitor Chinese naval activity in the Asia-Pacific, operational by 2017.

Chinese Department of Defense spokesperson Geng Yansheng stated on Thursday during a press conference that “Chinese vessels and their exercises in the region of the Western Asia-Pacific are in accordance with international law.  No country should respond out of proportion.”  He also quoted the Analects of Confucius: ““The gentleman is open and at ease; the mean man is full of worries and anxieties.””, condemning Japan’s decision to establish facilities to monitor the Chinese navy.

Editor: Xiao Er

Translated by: Paul Orner