Canada in the World: Canadian International Policy

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Video Interview

Note: The opinions presented are not necessarily those of the Government of Canada.

A Foundation of Common Values	3 min 55 sec	Windows Media l QuickTime
Disarmament	2 min 56 sec	Windows Media l QuickTime
Accommodating Rising Powers	2 min 25 sec	Windows Media l QuickTime

A Foundation of Common Values

My name is Yoshi Kawasaki. I am an Associate Professor of Political Science, teaching international politics and Japanese foreign affairs. I am also the Director of the Asia-Canada Program. This program covers Asian affairs as well as Asian-Canadian affairs. I have been with Simon Fraser University for 11 years.

First and foremost, Canada’s relationship with Japan is based on common political values, that is liberal democracy. Both Canada and Japan are mature democracies, and they are both American allies. In short, we can trust each other. I think that is very important. On top of this foundation, our relationship has evolved to a more comprehensive relationship.

Let me explain. Historically, Canada’s relationship with Japan was characterized by economic and social interactions. For example, for a long time, Japan used to be Canada’s number one trading partner in Asia. Japan is still the largest export market for Canada in Asia. In fact, in January of last year, the two prime ministers, former Prime Minister Paul Martin and the Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, signed an economic framework agreement to stimulate more economic cooperation.

That is the traditional dimension. Another traditional dimension is people-to-people, social-level contact. For example, the Japanese government has the program called JET, the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program. Under this program, many young Canadians go to Japan to teach English. So at the social level, bonding is quite strong too.

So those are two historical dimensions, but we now have the third dimension, security cooperation. In the past 10 years, the two governments have been cooperating on security affairs as well. For example, the two governments organize joint conferences or symposiums on security cooperation. On the field as well, Japanese and Canadian soldiers share peacekeeping operations around the globe.

So we now have three legs, so to speak: economy, society and security. And beneath that we have a strong foundation of common values, of freedom and democracy. I think the relationship between the two countries is very healthy, comprehensive and I think it is going to continue to deepen, so I am quite happy to see that.

Disarmament

Let me focus on small arms disarmament because that is a specific area where Canada and Japan have cooperated. In fact, the Japanese government has a human security program. One of the areas under this program is small arms disarmament. In Geneva, under the United Nations, the Japanese government has been quite active in promoting small arms disarmament, I think particularly in the context of Africa, in the context of failed states, where abundant automatic rifles and small guns are available, particularly with regard to child soldiers. So it is a very serious humanitarian issue. I am quite happy to see the more concrete attempt at cooperation between Canada and Japan in this specific area.

If you go back a bit and see the large picture of disarmament, the nuclear issue, what comes to mind is that Japan does not have nuclear weapons; it does accept IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] inspections. As you know, this country is the first—and at the moment the only—victim of atomic bombs. So at the popular level, there is a very strong pacifist, anti-nuclear weapons sentiment. The government respects that, and as far as I understand, tries to put forward resolutions against nuclear proliferation at the United Nations. I think that rubs the United States and other countries the wrong way, but if my recollection is right, that is what the government is doing.

Accommodating Rising Powers

Japan, like Canada, is in fact a status quo power, on the side of maintaining current world order. History indicates that rising powers, like the rise of China, the rise of India, will eventually lead to some kind of challenge to the world order. It might not happen right away in five years, but it is likely to happen in 20 years. In fact, President George Bush basically accommodated the aspiration of India to become a great power. I think a very similar situation will continue.

So in this context, Canada and Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom basically have the same national interest: to accommodate these rising, aspiring powers. I think it is very important to keep the large political picture in mind. In my view, Canadians tend to be too excited, if you will, about economic opportunities in the rise of China and the rise of India. That’s okay, but we have to step back and think about the large political implications, because the balance of power changes and we have to identify where Japan and Canada stand in this larger picture.

So that is how I think of Japan and Canada’s interest in light of China’s and India’s emergence as great powers.

Last Updated:2006-10-27

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