MATSUMURA'S CASE FOR ENDING BLOCKADE OF CHINA
[In recent months, under the encouragement of the Foreign | Relations Committee of the U.S.Senate, a number of critical voices in American ruling circles have pointed to the need to take a fresh look at Washington's policy of blockading the People's Republic of China. The gist of the criticisms is that it is high time to at. least recognize the existence of a government that speaks for a quarter of the world's population. Against this view, warmongers tainly around the Pentagon (and the "China lobby" inspired by Chiang Kai-shek and his American admirers) who have come to be <« labeled as the "hawks," favor escalating the war in Vietnam until it embroils China and. opens the way for a nuclear strike against Peking in what would then become World War III.
(This debate has found an-echo in Japan. In part it directly reflects the controversy in Washington, since the State Department has been steadily stepping up the pressure on the Sato government to come out more and more openly as an ally of Johnson in his belligerent policy in Vietnam. Indirectly, however, the debate in. Washington has aroused fear in some sectors of the Japanese rul-. _,ing circles that imperialist Japan could be left out on a limb “if a switch should occur in American policy. These more far-sighted sectors are mulling over ways and means to anticipate and circumvent. such an: outcome. Bt,
(This is the background to the new. - proposals of Kenzo. Mat~ sumura that the Japanese government should engage in a "bold" policy, break out of the present strait jacket and normalize relations with the People's Republic of China. The 83-year-old Matsumura belongs to the less conservative wing of the ruling. Liberal-Democratic party and is considered to be an elder states— man. He has long favored closer relations with China, but upon returning from a trip there recently he spoke:up with fresh urgency.
LHe presented his views in an article published by the Nihon Keisai Shimbun. An English translation was published in the June 14 issue of The Japan Times. Because of its interest in the current situation revolving around the war’ in Vietnam and the clear threat from the Johnson administration to- China, we have made the full. text available bélow.] ©
* * *
The time has come for Japan to make bold decisions to improve its relations with China.
The so-called "accumulation formula," by which is meant the accumulation of faits accomplis leading to the eventual establishment of full relations, is reaching its limits. I hope Prime Minister Eisaku' Sato will see China with an open mind and carry out what ought to ‘be done.
_9-
It is my belief that public opinion in Japan calls for better relations with China. Of course; Japan already has intimate relations -+ historical, geographical and»cultural -- with China, and this China is now undergoing great changes. Inthe context of the present international situation there is no reason why Sino- Japanese relations should remain as they are now. 7
I am afraid. ‘the: government ‘and ‘the Liberal- Democratic. party do not understand China properly; their’ basic: attitude toward China betrays that. The cat shuts its eyes while it steals the cream, as the saying goes. It seems to me that their present, China policy has something in common’ with this saying. ne '
-- China has a population of over 700 million and covers a vast area of 9,590,000: square kilometers. And the China.of today is different from what it once was. Its people have a fervent sense of nationalism, and its industry, agriculture and commerce are being modernized. A new China. is emerging as our next door neighbor.
This fact must: be fully. recognized in dealing with China. Japah' 8 correct-understanding of: China is the first prerequisite to improving our relations with that country. I hope that China and its problems will be studied with a new sense of purpose... : As a step in this direction, it is important that more Conservative Party dietmen should visit China; it is also ‘important . that they should see China with their own. - eyes and freely. exchange views with its leaders.
Of course, their visits will be meaningless if they listen uncritically to the Chinese, as.do Socialist and Communist dietmen. They should speak out on what is right:and point out what is wrorig. Only through such open-minded discussion will they be able to chart Japan's correct course of action. _
Otherwise, Japan may make a big mistake. There are many contradictions in what China does. Japanese politicians visiting China should analyze such contradictions on the spot and think .what should be done to achieve peace in the worid. oo
China leaves its door open to Japan. With similar ethnic and cultural backgrounds, Japan and China should have no trouble exchanging people. What should be remembered is that visitors, 7 whether Japanese ‘or Chinese, should refrain from doing or. saying. anything that could cause misunderstanding on each other's..part....
‘China has misconceptions about Japan, while Japan appears to be irritating China on purpose. I told Chinese leaders that as Japan must respect public opinion, so also must Ebina.
I explained to them that Japan ; is a peace- -loving nation and harbors no feeling of hostility toward China. I told them not to | speak ill of the Sato government because Sato will have to follow ‘public opinion. :
And I said that many influential Japanese dailies had editorially supported and encouraged my visit to China because they believe that something must be done to ease tensions and improve relations | between the two countries.
Chinese leaders understood me, in principle. Yet it seems to. me that the "accumulation" approach has reached its limits. I mean that the time is near at hand when Japan must make bold decisions aimed at normalizing: its relations with. China.
It was agreed to extend the so-called Liao- Takasaki ‘trade agreement, and of course this is part of the efforts being made on the basis of the "accumulation" approach. Kaheita Takasaki, president of All Nippon Airways, will go to China next spring to discuss details of the agreement. I do not expect that the negotiations will be too difficult. nner
China is Japan's fifth largest trading partner after the U.S., Australia, Canada and the Philippines. And there is still much room for growth only if Japan makes an effort in that direction. There is that controversial document called the "Yoshida letter" which prohibits Japan from using long-term Export-Import Bank credits in the export of Japanese industrial plants to China.
I hope Prime ‘Minister Sato will modify his attitude a little on this point, and the sooner this is done, the better. Both semigovernmental trade and private trade through Chinese-designated agents will continue to grow if Japan alters its China policy.
The question of Chinese representation in the United Nations, and the formula of designating China's U.N. membership as an "“important question" -- a step designed to keep China out of the: world body -- will become ineffective after the General Assembly has met . one or two more times.
Suppose Japan, in collaboration with the U.S. » is defeated in a vote on China's admission into the U.N. That could result in a double suicide with America. That would be a miserable thing for. Japan. There must be something Japan can do in order to forestall . such an eventuality. -
Communist China might not agree to join the U.N. even if that organization decides to give it a seat. Japan should see to it that this does not happen. But, I am afraid, this is not possible within the present framework of Japan" Ss China’ policy.
The biggest stumbling block is the question of Taiwan. Chen Yi, deputy premier of China, once said that China would use for the improvement of its people's life the cost required for the military emancipation of Taiwan. If China chooses to do so, he said, in 10 or 15.years from now Taiwan will come asking 3 for China's company.
I might suggest here that Sino-American cooperation might be
-1ll-
possible af the ‘Taiwan ‘question is dealt with by. setting a certain time limit. Close attention should be paid to Sino-American talks in Warsaw. If constructive efforts are not made through such talks, the U.S. cannot expect to promote trade and technical cooperation with China.
In parallel. to the soltition of these fundamental problens, Japan should, for the present’, conclude a civil air agreement.-and | promote technical interchange with China. An air route, if only between Nagasaki and- Shanghai, would ‘be quite practicable. -
“But if Tokyo - can be linked with Peking or Shanghai, one: will will be able to take a jet flight from Japan to China in a few hours. If this route is joined directly with Europe by a route over the Silk Road, ait will make a very convenient connection. —
A technical interchange program may include iniprovement of | the quality of cotton. In prewar years, Japan developéd unique varieties of cotton in China by blending long-fiber cotton of Egyptian origin with Chinese short-fiber cotton. Since the war, however, it is said that progress in this field has slowed down with the intrgduction of Soviet technology.
“Chinese” say that the Russians cooperated with then on’ paper, but the. Japanese gave them unstinted, down-to-earth cooperation. Other areas in which Japan could. provide cooperation include improving Chinese wool and constructing a hydroelectric power station on the Yangtze. . _ In summary, Sino- Japanese relations must be improved ona. broader basis and fundamentally. I do not think we can afford to. wait until the table is set for an ambassadorial meeting or something like that.
The