The Japanese snub

The Japanese snub
Posted Mon, 31/03/2008 - 22:58

At the risk of overloading this forum with content, just wondering if anyone out there had any reaction to the Rudd Government's diplomatic snubbing of Japan so far? Although I suppose the cookie crumbles both ways - Fukuda hasn't exactly been Sir Diplomacy since he stepped into office.

It's a pretty big change in the course of relations between the two countries, following what we've enjoyed over the past few years (including the heady days of Howard-Koizumi / seeing Abe in a dryazabone at APEC). I don't think it's too major as long as Oz and Nihon keep suckling at the same teat (United Freedom States of Freedom America) - but what with the ridiculous whaling row earlier in the year, it's been a rocky patch for the relationship.

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 "Snubbing" the Japanese over

Thu, 06/11/2008 - 21:10 — Ben

 "Snubbing" the Japanese over whaling is a big mistake. It's not how you get results when dealing with the Japanese. It's only valuable as political posturing to be appreciated by Australian people/voters - and it's a very short term benefit at that.

No. What you do is slowly and steadily build relations with Japan over a long period. Earn their trust. Make small deals. Trade.

Then, at some trusting point indicate that if they should wish support for an international issue, Australia would be willing to give it.

That time comes we stand beside them.

THEN. We are in a position to request that, if they please, they may wish to reconsider their stance on whaling in the South Pacific.

That's how you do business with the Japanese. 

Piss them off and you only make it tougher for years to come, with the bonus of blows to other negotiations. Not ideal I know, but the Japanese business culture is very different from ours, and bullying them is just not going to get results.

Owen's picture

Interesting response Ben... I

Mon, 10/11/2008 - 10:15 — Owen
Interesting response Ben... I agree in so much as any successful diplomacy is necessarily incremental, but I think it's a mistake to attribute the difficulty of negotiating this issue simply on cultural difference between the Japan and Australia.
 
I wonder whether you've ever heard of the concept of Nihonjinron (theory of Japaneseness)? It's a topic that was popular about 30 years ago in academia to discuss what made the Japanese national identity unique and distinct from the rest of Asia, and emphasised the fact that Japanese business and politics are impenetrable to outsiders. It was essentialism at its worst and was in fact originally the result of a study by a American scholar, Ruth Benedict, who obtained all her results on what 'Japaneseness' is by talking to a group of male POWs during WWII. There are even writers who posit that Nihonjinron was in fact a creation of the US psy-ops, who wanted to make sure Japan thought that it was unique and somehow 'above' Asia so that successive governments in Tokyo would continue to forsake regional cooperation for partnership with the US.
 
Anyway I'll have to put my Japan studies geek back on the leash now, but I guess I just wanted to point out that we should be careful not to confuse the normal realities of international relations with some sort of profound cultural difference. What do you reckon?

 

Joshua's picture

bit by bit

Sun, 09/11/2008 - 13:10 — Joshua

politics have to be measured culturally?

Joshua's picture

the snub

Tue, 01/04/2008 - 09:54 — Joshua

Oz it's well worth discussing Japan and Australia's relationship towards one another. I wonder why news of the snub wasn't publicised earlier, say when the whole whale fiasco was raging?

It makes you wonder whether the journalists who broke the story weren't simply reprinting some form of press release, probably from the Liberal Party, who probably watched some ranting video on youTube, 'cause that's where all accurate information comes from.

Moving on, I hope K-Rudd pulls his finger out. I like Japan... and I'm sure, given the chance, Japan would like me. I don't need some mandarin-yabbering politician to get between me and all those vending machines. Can you confirm? You can get used underpants from a vending machine over there?

 

Owen's picture

Mr Snub

Tue, 01/04/2008 - 13:50 — Owen

Not sure about the vending machines, but I did see a "skill tester" which contained small baubles in which there were pairs of panties. So you weren't even guaranteed a pair of soiled panties... you had to earn it. Brilliant.

Joshua's picture

The Snub de Jour

Tue, 01/04/2008 - 21:51 — Joshua

Sounds like "best friend" material to me! C'mon K-Rudd... get yer act together.

But perhaps on a serious note can you, a man with some knowledge of Japan, enlighten us as to just why our relationship with Japan, diplomatically and undergarmently speaking, is so important?

There's speculation that we're embracing China to the detriment of our relationship with Japan. Do you think we can have better relationships with both, or are they mutually exclusive?