4
the ASEAN countries and the Republic of Korea have recently witnessed
healthy recovery compared to the set-back in 1982. The recent incidents,
although regrettable, in no way alter our optimism about the future of
Asia.
The essence of Japan's Asian and Pacific policy is precisely to
encourage and, wherever possible, promote the positive trends I described
earlier, in cooperation with other industrial democracies like the U.S.A.,
Canada, Australia, New Zealand and European countries.
Japan's Asian and Pacific policy can be divided into three major
areas, namely political, economic and cultural.
In order to carry on the dynamic economic and social progress,
there must first and foremost be peace and political stability. Japan
has diplomatic relations with almost all countries in the region. Trade
and other relations with them are close.
act as a stabilizer in this region.
Politically, Japan is ready to
The greatest threat to the peace and stability of the region comes
from the Soviet military build-up and strengthening of her power pro-
jection capabilities. The United States is the country which can provide
effective deterrence to the Soviet threat in this region.
Japan needs
to improve its self-defense capabilities within its constitutional
framework and in accordance with its basic defense policy in order to
maintain the effective deterrence of the Japan-U.S. security arrangements.
In the long run, the economic and social progress of Asia is a guarantor
of peace and stability in the region. The Japan-U.S. alliance not only
serves as a deterrence but also aims at contributing to the economic and
social development of Asia.
Turning to economic aspect, some 60 per cent of world population lives
in Asia, including the Indian sub-continent. The size of Japan's GNP is
such that the total GNP of the rest of Asia corresponds to little more
than half of Japan's GNP.
at 77.2 billion in 1981.
Japan's trade with other Asian countries stood
Japan provided official development assistance
which amounted to about half of what ASEAN and China respectively received.