Japan and China in East Asian Integration

1. Japanese Perspectives on Malaysia’s “Look East” Policy

1 Japanese Perspectives on Malaysia’s “Look East” Policy 1 CHAPTER 1 Japanese Perspectives on Malaysia’s “Look East” Policy Introduction The “Look East” policy was publicly announced by the Malaysian Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in December 1981. This policy has gained momentum and has become an important part of Malaysia’s national policy. However, it has also probably created some misunderstanding, controversy, and disarray in policymaking in Malaysia as well as in Japan. The policy seems to aim at introducing Japanese work ethics and managerial systems in order to improve the economic performance and productivity of Malaysia. It is argued, for example, that the “Look East” policy, which proposes to combine Malaysia’s resource-based industrialization with Japanese technology and capital, might eventually form an important part of Malaysia’s New Economic Policy. Some people, however, also argue that this policy is ultimately unrealistic due to Malaysia being a heterogeneous society and Japan, a homogeneous society. They further argue that these two countries are totally different in culture, social values, and historical background which will undoubtedly create serious impediments for Malaysia to “Look East”. This chapter examines the reactions to this policy from the Japanese government, the business community, academic circles, and the mass media. Government and Diplomats The Japanese government has shown special concern towards the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) following its 01 Japan&China Ch 1 11/6/07, 12:20 PM 1 2 Japan and China formation in 1967. This was basically due to its immense increase in capital investment and trade in the region. ASEAN’s criticisms of Japan began to emerge gradually because of fears of possible economic domination by Japan. This anxiety was escalated by a tendency for a revival of Japanese militarism. In July 1972, the third Sato administration was taken over by Tanaka Kakuei after a decisive battle with Fukuda Takeo. Tanaka was aware that his predecessor, Sato Eisaku, had created a “hawkish image” in the ASEAN countries and he decided to improve the relationship between ASEAN and Japan. However, his good intentions were met with ASEAN’s antiJapanese campaigns when he toured the region in January 1974. He was unable to devote himself to promoting Japan-ASEAN friendship partly because he was soon involved in the “Lockheed Scandal” and partly because he concentrated his attention on making his faction the most influential representative in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan. He was thus too occupied with domestic issues to pay much attention to Malaysia and the ASEAN region. In December 1974, a compromise cabinet led by Miki Takeo emerged when he dissolved the Tanaka Cabinet with the indispensable support of Tanaka’s old rival, Fukuda Takeo. Miki did not even have an opportunity to tour the ASEAN countries simply because during his two-year premiership, domestic structural reforms and the “Tanaka Lockheed Scandal” consumed a great part of his energy. He was an enthusiastic reformist in Japan’s internal affairs but not much concerned with ASEAN. Fukuda Takeo succeeded Miki Takeo in December 1976 after a fierce power struggle among LDP factions. During his two-year premiership, which was shorter than he had expected, he toured ASEAN in August 1977. He proclaimed his “heart-to-heart doctrine” (or the so-called Fukuda Doctrine) in the Philippines at the end of his ASEAN tour. His “heart-to-heart” efforts have, to some extent, eased ASEAN’s criticisms of Japanese economic domination in the region. However, in December 1978, his intention to remain in power was foiled by Ohira Masayoshi. Ohira managed to attend the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in the Philippines in May 01 Japan&China Ch 1 11/6/07, 12:20 PM 2 3 Japanese Perspectives on Malaysia’s “Look East” Policy 3 1979 but did not get to tour ASEAN before his death in June 1980. A compromise administration, led by Suzuki Zenko, succeeded Ohira Masayoshi in July 1980. Suzuki’s tour of ASEAN in January 1981 attracted world-wide attention as he was the first Japanese premier to travel to this region before paying a courtesy visit to the United States of America (US). His extraordinary decision, however, did not create any widespread repercussions among the ASEAN countries. He seldom commented on ASEAN due partly to his reticent character. He was a comparatively less ambitious Japanese politician in his efforts to solve the numerous problems, both external and internal...