(Asahi Shimbun, April 23,1999)
Tokyo governor-elect Shintaro Ishihara, since elected,
EDITORIAL: Ishihara needs a China trip to demonstrate leadership
The office of Tokyo governpr is not Ishihara's personal property. The
damage done by his imprudent remarks, disregarding his position, will
eventually damage his ability to govern Tokyo.
Governor-elect Shintaro Ishihara officially assumes the office of
Tokyo governor today. The challenge he faces as governor is whether
he will watch over his constituency and perform his duties as Tokyo
citizens expect.
Even before he assumes office, however, a troubling measure of his
stewardship emerged: the government of China expressed displeasure
with remarks he made after he was elected.
In his interview with Asahi Shimbun, Ishihara criticized China's
human rights record and its policy on Tibet, and said he did not like
the present government of China. In reference to the prospect of
friendship exchanges between Tokyo and Beijing, Ishihara said he felt
that if someone from the Tokyo government needed to go, it should be
a deputy governor, and a person who feels sympathy with Beijing
should go to Beijing.
At the same time, he demonstrated an affinity for Taiwan. In an
interview with the Mainichi Shimbun, Ishihara emphasized his
relationship with Taiwan's President Lee Teng-hui, and suggested he
was considering a visit to Taiwan "if necessary." His comment is not
surprising, given his earlier remarks to the effect that Japan's
normalization of relations with China amounted to "dumping Taiwan."
He has continued to evince a pro-Taiwan stance ever since. China has
been more critical of Ishihara's words and deeds, including his
previous comments.
Ishihara's distaste for China and preference for Taiwan may be, for
him, an article of faith. In that sense, his honesty can be
appreciated.
But such honesty alone will not be enough to fulfill his duties as
governor. He should refrain from ignoring the "one China" policy put
forth in the 1972 Japan-China joint declaration and the 1978 Treaty
of Peace and Friendship, and dampening the friendship our two
countries share.
The office of Tokyo governor is not Ishihara's personal property. The
damage done by his imprudent remarks, disregarding his position, will
eventually damage his ability to govern Tokyo.
He needs an early visit to Beijing as governor to exchange frank
opinions with Chinese leaders. Whatever he might say will be less
than persuasive as long as he keeps saying he does not want to visit
China. It is his duty as governor to have a levelheaded talk with his
counterparts in Beijing.
After he was elected, Ishihara said he wanted to meet with leaders of
the central government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. It is
inconsistent for him to seek domestic talks but shy away from
dialogue with Chinese leaders. The Chinese government would probably
not object to having Ishihara visit Beijing.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of sister city ties between
Tokyo and Beijing. Yukio Aoshima and Shunichi Suzuki, Ishihara's
predecessors, both visited Beijing.
Diplomatic initiatives by local government leaders cannot be
conducted through smiles and toasts alone. They have a role in
discussing subjects that central government leaders are not
comfortable with, and establishing reputations for cooperation in
areas that affect the lives of the people in their respective cities.
They can also have frank discussions about problems they have to
address daily in their own cities.
Ishihara once said he thought the Rape of Nanking was a Chinese
fabrication. After the election, he said, "I didn't mean it was a
lie. I just meant that what had been impossible in terms of numbers
was made to look as if it were true."
In that case, why not go all the way to Nanjing? Seeing the scene of
the crime with an author's eye for collecting historic proof would
also help him fulfill his duties as governor.
It is incomprehensible that Ishihara would say he would leave all the
troublesome chores to deputy governor, beginning with exchanges with
China. There are many onerous tasks--more than ever--involved in
governing Tokyo. The real test awaiting him lies in rehabilitating
Tokyo Metropolitan Government's fiscal health while enhancing the
daily lives of Tokyo's citizens. Decisions must not be left to deputy
governors, but must fall to the governor himself. And Ishihara is the
only governor Tokyo has.
