“PACIFIC ALLIANCE” by: Patrick Nwadike.

nwadike2@gmail.com

Date was June 9, 2009. Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan hosted Mr. Kent Calder. He was at the club house to discuss his new work; Pacific Alliance.

In his presentation, Calder stated that we are at the point of important transition; that the world is not static and has never been; that there are rapid changes and these rapid changes affects both academics and Journalists. Calder posited that Journalists sees more of the dynamism than academics as the world continue to embrace changes.

Calder went on to discuss U.S. and Japan relationship. He emphasized on the fact that international relations are not static; that time is an important factor affecting relations. He used graph to showcase what mattered most in U.S./Japan relations since 1950’s. He posited that Japan/U.S. relations are the two left standing in the pacific.

“The world has changed a lot since 1945. GDP has changed as against the world that existed then. The global level of relationship and regional relationship has also changed. Even internal politics has also since changed”, Calder stated.

TRADE:

As trading partners, Asia export to U.S. is larger than its imports to Asia. In 2002, U.S./China trade exceeded U.S./Japan trade. In 2006, Japan/China trade exceeded that of Japan/U.S. In the current year, Taiwan/China trade is more than U.S./Japan. Rise in defense spending are major new changes that cannot be ignored.

DOMESTIC/POLITICAL/ECONOMIC:

In 1985, ethnic shift in Japan demography in U.S. when matched with China and South Korea were:

* China: 3,500,000.

* Japan: 3, 000,000.

* South Korea: 2,500,000.

America share of visitor to Japan has declined while South Korea and China has risen. Students’ demography from South Korea is larger even as Japan population is in double.

Calder stated that globalization has broadened the agenda and interest of the two allies. G8 has been subsumed by G20. He however observed that U.S./Japan relations are not in trade war as it was in about 1971 to 1976. Currently important to U.S. and Japan are: environment, terrorism, sea lane, East Asia security, income inequality, situation in the Middle East, energy reliance, etc. All these make U.S./Japan relation quite fundamental.

TECHNOLOGY:

Calder stated that balance in technology between U.S. and Japan is becoming more symmetrical. Japan/U.S. has done well in construction but high speed rail has not been utilized by U.S. He stated that Japan Prime Minister, Taro Aso presented this to Obama while visiting America of recent. Calder was of the opinion that things can be done to strengthen relations in the areas of technology for common interest. Calder accepted though, that some dynamic differences and conflict exists.

In an answer to a question as to why Japan is still keeping U.S. relations, Calder stated that there is potential uncertainty in security, especially as regards North Korea and what to do about it. Calder initialized different forms of relationships U.S have with other countries like Britain, Germany and China. He posited that while U.S./British relationship is symbolic and old enough, most fitting for Japan is to learn from U.S./German relationship. Calder stated that Germany after the 2^nd world war was able to reach major enemies by one alliance. For instance, FULBRIGHT is broader with Germans. Another effort is Marshall Plan that Germany got involved with. Marshall Plan raised issues that both Germany and America had common concern. Another is Ukraine; centralizing of energy and pipeline. Germany also has done well in funding ‘Party Institute’ around the world. All these have been good in cultivating the Capitol Hill, Calder stated.

Calder also presented Chinese leader’s visit to America as worthy of emulation by Japan. America investment in China supports Capitol Hill in dealing with the Chinese. Chinese prefers to work through U.S./China Business Council. It helps Chinese role in ‘Agenda Setting’ more effectively. Calder gave an example of how Chinese leaders stage state visits. President Wen Jiabao on visit to America went to Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and finally, Washington. China also used the private sector side when its leaders are on a trip overseas. On the other hand, Japanese leaders will simply visit Washington and fly back to Tokyo. This has not been enough for communication flow. This is not good for the psyche of the alliance, Calder stated.

Calder responded to other questions like Communist Party of Japan wanting to do away with U.S./Japan relations if they win the next election, the recent appointment of new U.S. Ambassador to Japan by President Obama, North Korea question and China involvement, and controversy resulting from supply of F22 or F35 military aircraft to Japan by U.S.

Calder is director of the Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies at SAIS, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, D.C. He was special adviser to U.S. Ambassador to Japan and Japan Chair at the center for Strategic and International Studies {CSIS}. He taught in Princeton for up to twenty years and initiated U.S.-Japan research programs at Princeton and Harvard Universities.

I met with Mr. Kent Calder after his presentation. We discussed Japan/Nigeria relation which unfortunately is still at ODA level. It is pitiable that at anytime Africa comes into focus in international relation; aides to Africa come up as an issue. Meanwhile, the end users do not benefit from such aides or from donors. Now that some Blacks in America are showing interest, it is important to end the grants and save U.S. tax payers money. I am also hopeful that　Japan MOFA through JICA {Japan International Cooperation Agency} can take an in-depth look and stop most aides to Africa or affect changes in channel of distribution since what is given hardly affect lives of the people it was meant for; since what is given do not get to end users.

Robot  # 1 | 12.06.2009 05:23

It is pitiable that at anytime Africa comes into focus in international relation; aides to Africa come up as an issue. Meanwhile, the end users do not benefit from such aides or from donors. Now that some Blacks in America are showing interest, it is important to end the grants and save U.S. tax payers money....Read the full article.