TOKYO, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- December marks the fourth month of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in ruling and the nation is now reflecting on promises made by the DPJ and wondering if their call for change will be answered, after the Liberal Democratic Party's half century reign which descended into cronyism, corruption, and eventually ineptitude.
Domestic policy and foreign diplomacy have prompted much debate about the DPJ's political maturity and ability to craft and deliver unequivocal policies that will lead Japan into a new era of prosperity, through efficient, decisive governance and global quid pro quo alliances.
As the year draws to an end and the recession drags on in Japan, the spotlight is shining ever brighter on Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and the Democratic Party of Japan.
DOES CLOUDY POLICY HERALD STORM OF CONTRADICTION?
Although the new DPJ's rule has been brief and some analysts may claim that the party needs more time to steady itself before rhetoric is morphed into policy, the Hatoyama-led administration has already set a solid precedence that can be seen as an indicator of what's to come.
Hatoyama has taken a firm stance on internal governance aimed at wrestling political power away from bureaucrats. Such a move marks a distinct departure from the LDP's backroom dealings with its bureaucratic insurrectionists. In fact the DPJ manifesto is unequivocal in its pledge to be "transparent" in its policy formulation -- particularly relating to the rearranging and ultimately redistribution of Japan's 207 trillion yen general national budget, which now falls under the responsibility of elected officials rather than unelected bureaucrats, in line with Japan's constitution.
In contrast to such a chaste political course the DPJ has charted, the administration's halting of the privatization of the postal service, one of the most visible policy reforms of the ousted LDP, has highlighted a certain contradiction in the ruling party's modus operandi.
The Hatoyama administration appointed former Vice Finance Minister Jiro Saito, now a public servant, with the role of president of Japan Post Holdings Co. He currently oversees 3 trillion U.S. dollars in assets and revenues of 220 billion U.S. dollars. The postal bank alone has 2 trillion U.S. dollars in deposits, effectively making it the largest savings bank in the world.
The Hatoyama-led DPJ has drawn staunch criticism from the public, press and opposition parties, as the new government's election promise was to end the appointment of former bureaucrats into public enterprises and state affiliates -- Saito's appointment to the top-position has seemingly flown in the face of the party's own mandate.
Prior to Hatoyama taking office, his sentiments on state fundraising initiatives were loud and clear and certainly in the best interests of the taxpayer who he said would not be responsible for making up government shortfalls.
"We must make efforts to limit government-bond issuance as much as possible," said Hatoyama. "We need to do some soul-searching about the past practice of spending freely without limit and then selling bonds if there was a budget shortfall."
Although the Democratic Party of Japan is sounding a tough note on the country's budget deficit, credit-rating agencies and investors are skeptical about whether the newcomers to power can curtail the nation's disproportionate and mounting debt.
However, despite a mounting national deficit and after wrangling with its junior coalition party members, the DPJ announced recently it would release 7.2 trillion yen (80.90 billion U.S. dollars) as a supplementary budget to run for the year through March 2010, aimed at boosting Japan's ailing economy.
Hatoyama's cabinet also decided to put a 44 trillion yen (494.38 billion U.S. dollars) cap on capital raising through state bond issuance, for next year's budget -- again there was some disinclination from the Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party, who wanted the fiscal ceiling raised to some 95 trillion yen, but the new budget will be submitted to the regular Diet session in January for approval all the same.
Fueling the sparks of doubt that the new administration hadn't departed completely from the LDP's venal ways was the coming to light of Hatoyama's political fund scandal, involving erroneous donations to his political fund management organization -- the nation's response to the ordeal seemed to be, "here we go again.."
Seeing his approval rating dipped to the lowest since he took office in September, Hatoyama on Monday apologized for watering down pledges from his election campaign.
Essentially, the DPJ, for the good of the nation or otherwise, has spent a great deal of time and effort attempting to separate themselves ideologically from their predecessors. As fresh ideas meander their way to lawmakers, the nation is waiting with increasing impatience to see whether such ideologies will translate into tangible evolution and development -- otherwise known as policies, and therein lies the initial litmus test for the future credibility of the DPJ, which, due to early issues of transparency, gainsaying and fund scandals, has already been brought into question.
FLEDGLING FOREIGN DIPLOMACY MUST GROW LEGS TO WALK
On foreign policy, making difference from the former LDP which held the U.S.-Japan alliance as the core of its foreign diplomacy, Hatoyama is championing a new Asian relationship and a Japan that is less reliant and less subservient to the United States.
Up to eight out of ten notable political analysts interviewed by Xinhua contended that whilst rebuilding and consolidating diplomatic ties in Asia is widely seen as a step forward for the DPJ, particularly as the global economic landscape starts to shift with China soon to emerge as the world's second largest economy, the DPJ will do well to balance this new ties with its existing relationship with the U.S., rather than prioritizing one over the other.
"The policy toward Japan's neighbors such as the Republic of Korea and China, on which Prime Minister Hatoyama places his priority, is at the core of the DPJ's East Asian policy, said Yoshihide Soeya, Director of the Keio Institute of East Asian Studies, and Professor at the Faculty of Law, Keio University.
However, while Japan is working on closer ties with other Asiannations for an "East Asia Community" based on fraternity, it has found hard to implement its new policy to become equal with its long-time alliance as the United States has become accustomed to exerting influence on an LDP-led Japan, analysts noted.
"There is very little doubt that, when it comes to 'equality', the United States, for its part, would demand that Japan play a greater role in the alliance," Soeya said.
A recent example shows that with a strong opposition from the United States on the Okinawa military base realignment, the DPJ announced that any decision regarding the relocating of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station's Heliport functions will be sustained until the New Year.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Dr. Robert M. Gates in a recent visit to Japan also delivered Washington's message that re-examining the2006 U.S.-Japan Roadmap for Realignment and Implementation was not an option. "There really are no alternatives to the arrangement that was negotiated," Gates stated unequivocally.
As Upper House elections approach, the DPJ must be proactive if they hope to consolidate their power, particularly as their popularity rating has plummeted to below 60 percent for the first time since taking power. Standing at a crossroad means a decision has to be made and steps taken.
"There is no question that Japan stands at a foreign policy crossroads. The international system is in the midst of a rapid transformation and Japan must adapt its diplomatic strategy to meet the challenges of this new era," said Hitoshi Tanaka, a former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and current senior fellow at the Japan Center for International Exchange.
"The historic change that has occurred in Japanese politics presents a prime opportunity for Japan to reinvigorate its foreign policy, strengthen ties with both the United States and its East Asian neighbors, and embark on a new course," noted Tanaka.
Special report: Yearender 2009
