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viewpoint of world politics, it was
"ex–
treme/y tmnat11ral"
that the two Asían
powers had no diplomatic relations.
This unnatural separation, he contin–
ued, was "a factor disturbing peace and
security in the Asían area." The Japa–
nese, he said, should make it their
"mis–
sion''
to ensure Red China's return to
international society.
Key to Japan's Future Prosperity
Tokuma Utsunomiya, Vice President
of the Association for the Promotion of
International Trade, stressed perhaps the
most critica! issue of all - future trade
relations between China and Japan. Mr.
Utsunomiya told the delegates in no
uncertain terms that the economic
prosperity of Japan in the future was
not pouible
as long as Japan continued
to ignore the "economic and geographic
realities" that existed between the two
nations.
This is even more critica! now in
middle 1971 than in early 1969.
Japan needs a 10-14% annual surge
in exports in order to reach her goal -
the world's mightiest economic power
by the end of the century. Yet, Japanese
industrialists clearly envision a time of
no growth in exports to the U. S., their
largest market. Even a decline in U. S.
trade is very likely.
Since the Santa Barbara conference,
trade relations between Tokyo and
Washington have worsened consid–
erably. Threats of protectionist U. S.
trade measures against the steady in–
roads made by Japanese imports have
mvunted.
"Could the hundreds of millions of
mainland Chinese provide the per–
centage of growth needed ?" ask Japa–
nese businessmen. Practically no other
market - outside of Western Europe
- could provide the market Japan
needs. And Western European nations
have erected so many barriers to Japa–
nese exports that heavy penetration
there seems unJikely.
China may indeed be a solution to
Japan's uncertain economic future. But
U. S. policy- to which Japan is tied by
a mutual defense treaty and other links,
such as joint recognition of the Nation–
alist government on Taiwan - has to
Witle
Worltl