“At present, many American strategists believe’ it is neither necessary nor capable for the United States to contain China’. As far as I know, this has become a prevalent opinion among American political elites. Therefore, the core task ahead for the United States is to revive its own strength.” Japanese scholar Yoshikazu Kato made such comments on Chahar Roundtable meeting on July 24.

The theme of this roundtable meeting, held by the Chahar Institute, is “China’s rise in the eyes of American strategists: to break the conventional logic of the rise of great powers”. As the highlight of this activity, Yoshikazu Kato, a young researcher and member of the Chahar Institute, shared his gains from the two-year visit to Harvard University with scholars and journalists.

Yoshikazu Kato: This is a pretty important question. As you have mentioned the new type of major power relationship, I think, Japan, as the ally of the United States, is surely unpleasant somehow, because we (Japanese) are very worried about what is going on between the United States and China. Because you know now the U.S.-China relationship is pretty close strategically, and actually now the United States is trying to pass Japan and build a relationship with China, so this structure is a new one. Actually, it makes Japan feel unpleasant, or unhappy. That is why last time when President Obama visited Japan, Japanese media and Japanese public expressed that we were happy. Now the United States restarts to make points with Japan, its ally. So I think this means that Japan is lack of confidence. What strategy shall we (Japan) apply? How shall we build a new relationship with the United States and improve the relationship with China? So it is a problem how to manage the China-Japan-US relationship, the triangle relationship. After all, Japan is now lack of strategy on what is our (Japan) position, what is our (Japan) role among the three. Actually, that is why Japan, Japanese public opinions, Japanese people tend to be unpleasant. This is pretty emotional. You know, I think this is lack of confidence, and lack of strategy.

Yoshikazu Kato: You mentioned that the American control over Japan was in decline, right? I think, well, you are right. This is actually in decline. I think the first reason would be, as I mentioned in my speech, now the U.S. itself, the U.S. capability, and U.S. power in Asian Pacific and in global governance are in decline. And you know, as I mentioned, now in the United States, they are busy with their domestic situation, as companies shut down. And actually, after Arab Spring in the Middle East, there are a lot of things to be managed. So my partner thinks that in the White House right now, they have not been ready for managing the Pacific issue. Under this circumstance, Japan nationalized those Islands in 2012. I think now the U.S. strategists, and the U.S. government think Japan as a trouble-maker somehow. Because now the United States are lack of capability to manage Asian Pacific issue, while Japan are provocating the tension with China. So Japan is not a good ally. And actually, in the perspective of the United States, Japan seems to be rejecting or denying TPP, transpacific partnership, and the U.S. commitment or pivot to Asian pacific. Japan lacks positiveness to push forward the TPP agreement in this region. So what is your (Japan) position? What you (Japan) want to do? In conclusion, I think, on the one hand, the U.S. itself is lack of capability to manage Asian Pacific region. That is why, they feel very frustrated. And now Japan is provocating China. On the other hand, as I have mentioned, it is the ally prices as the U.S. is a global governance power. I think actually now the United States, same as Japan, are wait and see what is going on home and abroad. So I think it takes time. But for Japanese, you know, it is a really essential problem. What is your (Japan) future goal? What is your future strategy? I think this is a pretty important and essential question.

Guangming online: Do you think it is a piece of good news or a bad one for Japan?

Yoshikazu Kato: Of course this is bad. You know, if we are sure how to manage the relationship with the U.S and China, this can be good, because now the U.S. is lack of capability to manage the Asian Pacific, which could raise Japanese role and Japanese responsibility in this region. So the hypothesis is that if Japan has a very obvious strategy in Asian Pacific, this is a good thing. But unfortunately, Japan does not. So I think it is bad for Japan.