Japanese politician and MP Yoshiaki Harada (73) is former minister for education and has also held post of vice-minister for foreign affairs. He is currently an influential member of the Diet (Parliament). Known amongst advisors of current Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, Harada is seen a sprit behind India-Japanese relationship. He was here to attend Global Partnership Summit (GPS). On the sidelines of the summit, he talked to Iftikhar Gilani of DNA. Excerpts:
How you seen India-Japan and the US trilateral relations coming up?
India-Japan relations was always good. Over last few years, it has received more attention, Currently, India is politically very stable, so is Japan also under Abe. Over past many years India's annual growth rate has more than 7%. Last decade, growth rate in Japan has been either zero or one or two per cent. We want to help India to become more prosperous. India has an enormous population and is very industrious; it is extremely important to Japan. It's true that India favoured the Soviet Union during the Cold War, but in the future, I think Japan should strengthen its ties with India.
How was your experience at GPS?
I particularly liked Indians adhering to spiritualism and blending their religious beliefs with modernity. Japanese are sometimes more materialistic. We must learn from Indian people to blend materialism with spirituality. Recently a yoga centre has been set up at our Parliament House and many MPs have enrolled there.
This India, Japan and the US partnership is bound to raise hackles in the neighbourhood. It will be looks as an alliance against rise of China?
I don't believe this partnership has any military or a strategic angle. It is to bring economic growth in the region. Yes, there is faint connection to prevent China to achieve its military goals. There has been apprehensions and threats from China in the region. But we have no issue with China if it respects its neighbours and adheres to international rules.
In the Parliament, I have learned that you had confronted Chinese by producing a map of 1969, where China had been admitting Japanese claims on disputed Senkaku Islands (including Uotsuri Island).
Like India and China boundary disputes, Japan and China have problems including the Senkaku Islands, and there are also issues between Japan and South Korea. It is important for us to appeal to the international community regarding issues – such as those between Japan and China, as well as Japan and South Korea, including the Senkaku Islands – and gain understanding from other countries and the international society.
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