Japan's new PM wins praise on debut

By Shingo Ito (AFP)

Sep 26, 2009

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania — Japan's new prime minister wound up his global debut this week, winning applause from world leaders for his ambitious target on climate change and assuring that US ties were solid.

But analysts warned the honeymoon of Yukio Hatoyama's novice government may not last long as he must soon live up to the political consequences of his promises.

Fresh from taking office last week, Hatoyama met US President Barack Obama, China's President Hu Jintao and other world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly and climate change talks in New York and the Group of 20 summit in Pittsburgh.

The center-left leader -- whose Democratic Party of Japan ended more than half a century of almost unbroken conservative rule in a sweeping election win last month -- rated his whirlwind trip as "extremely fulfilling."

"By meeting with so many leaders on my diplomatic debut, I was able to send a message saying Japan's politics have changed," said the soft-spoken, Stanford-trained engineer.

Hatoyama, the scion of a powerful political dynasty, impressed counterparts with a pledge to cut Japan's greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020 from 1990 and to step up aid to poor countries to combat climate change.

"Hatoyama made an ideal debut as the 25 percent reduction has a great impact," said Tetsuro Kato, a professor of politics at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo.

"But at the same time the pledge, now turning out to be an international one, is weighing heavily on his shoulders."

Some business leaders have warned the 25 percent reduction may force ailing manufacturers to flee overseas and estimated the burden at 4,000 dollars (360,000 yen) per Japanese individual each year.

"I know some industries are saying it's impossible, but I believe we can make it by fully making use of our science and technology," Hatoyama said. "I believe in the Japanese people. I'm confident."

Hatoyama also maintained he was able to get off to a good start with Washington, saying he managed to build "some sort of relationship of trust with President Obama."

During their joint meeting, Obama called the half-century alliance with Japan a "cornerstone" of US diplomacy and said he would visit Tokyo in November.

Hatoyama "successfully showed his philosophy, and now it's time to face reality," said Takehiko Yamamoto, a political professor at Tokyo's Waseda University.

"On the issue of the Japan-US alliance, the next key stage will come in November when various diplomatic events are scheduled, including Obama's visit to Japan."

Hatoyama said he would move quickly to find a way to provide support to Afghanistan for Obama, who has invested political capital into rooting out violent extremists from the war-torn country.

Hatoyama plans to end an Indian Ocean naval refueling mission that supports the US-led military campaign in Afghanistan, but has proposed offering job training for former Afghan soldiers as a possible alternative.

While in opposition, his party briefly forced a halt to the naval mission through parliamentary maneuvers, arguing that Japan -- officially pacifist since World War II -- should not abet "American wars."

Hatoyama in the past has criticized "US-led globalism" and called for "more equal" ties between the United States and Japan.

But his first trip abroad also saw a diplomatic setback for Japan, as Obama declared that the Group of 20 would be the premier global economic forum, not the cozier Group of Eight.

Hatoyama said the G8, of which Japan is a member, should not end. "I don't really think the significance of the G8 has disappeared," he said.

The world's second-largest economy has looked on with unease as a greater spotlight falls on its growing neighbor China, which is a key member of the G20 and has blocked Japan's bids for permanent membership on the UN Security Council.

China's growing clout was reaffirmed on Friday when world leaders unveiled plans to fix global imbalances and give more voting power at the International Monetary Fund to emerging giants.

The Group of 20 summit in Pittsburgh committed the IMF to shift at least five percent of its internal voting rights to the developing world and tasked it with a bigger monitoring role.

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