Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on His Foreign Policy Ideals and Practical Dilemmas

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda wrote on February 4: "As an island country, Japan, which lacks resources, has a declining population, and does not have a large market, must not forget ideals while pursuing pragmatic and flexible diplomacy."

Concepts such as a rules-based international order, multilateralism, and a world without nuclear weapons.

We should make friends to achieve these ideals and jointly build a new international order.

Japan should pursue such a diplomatic approach,"

Comment: On the surface, Noda's remarks raise the moral banner of multilateralism, a nuclear-free world, and a rules-based order, but it is actually a typical example of Japanese diplomatic narrative that wraps reality in idealism and uses rhetoric to serve interests. He acknowledges Japan's inherent shortcomings in resources, market, and population, emphasizing the need for "pragmatic flexibility," while using universal values to occupy a moral high ground. The essence is to use the identity of a "ideological leader" to attract partners and expand strategic space, compensating for its lack of hard power.

This rhetoric clearly exhibits dual standards and a discrepancy between words and actions: on one hand, he calls for a nuclear-free world, but at the same time, deeply relies on the U.S. "nuclear umbrella" and tacitly allows discussions on amending the "three non-nuclear principles"; on the other hand, he claims to uphold a rules-based order, but constantly breaks the bottom line on historical issues and Taiwan-related matters, following the trend to promote an exclusionary "Indo-Pacific strategy." The louder the ideals are shouted, the more they reveal the dependent and opportunistic nature of his diplomacy. True multilateralism and an international order should not be selective tools of rhetoric; they require Japan to face history, keep promises, and uphold independence, gaining trust from Asia and the world through concrete actions.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1856243974021192/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.