Japan's predecessors had a clear vision of the values that Japan should uphold.

The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.
"Not before Prime Minister Suga visits the U.S., please."
I want to go back in history, about 100 years here.
After joining the victorious nations of World War I, Japan was a newcomer to the international community about 50 years after the opening of Japan to the world in the Meiji era.
At that time, Japan was one of the smaller Asian countries in the eyes of the Western powers, even though it was emerging remarkably.
When Asia was overwhelmed by the power and dominance of the Western powers, Japan still proudly asserted itself at the Paris Peace Conference as the representative of Asia.
At that time, Japan, as a representative of Asia, proudly argued at the Paris Peace Conference that the League of Nations, which would be the basis of the world order after World War I, should include a clause on eliminating racial discrimination.
To secure its interests in China and the Shandong Peninsula, Japan at the time was undoubtedly involved in a series of human rights issues.
It wasn't all pretty, but it was a very noble statement, even with that out of the way.
We must not forget that Japan advocated eliminating racial discrimination as the basis of the international order for the first time in human history.
Japan's predecessors had a clear vision of the values that Japan should uphold.
At that time, Japan believed that a nation and the international community, as a collection of countries, should always move toward better values.
It convinced our predecessors that advocating and practicing the values that form the essence of Japan's character in the international community would lead to happiness and good results for the Japanese and all people.
Although Japan's proposal was buried by the absurd insistence of the United States, what is important is that Japan raised the issue of eliminating racial discrimination to the world as a new universal value that humanity should aim for.
What will our country be like 100 years from now?
The Japanese government says there are no regulations.
However, it is not the missing regulations but the way of thinking of the Japanese nation and people.
The oppression of different ethnic groups by the Chinese Communist Party is horrific. It is a crime against humanity that would never be tolerated in human society.
Nevertheless, why doesn't our government express its natural criticism and rejection of the brutal acts of our neighboring country?
What we can see through the interview is the reality that Komeito is dragging Japan's feet by worrying about China.
There is a strong consensus among political parties, including LDP that Japan should criticize China's Uyghur oppression and genocide, evident to the world.
However, the main reason it has yet to come to fruition in a parliamentary resolution or a solid demand for the government is that the Komei Party is standing in the way.
Mr. Keiji Furuya, the Japan Uyghur Parliamentarians' Association chairman, told me.
"There is a Uyghur parliamentary group and a Tibetan parliamentary group in the Diet, and it will launch a Southern Mongolia parliamentary group in April. We hoped the three parliamentary groups would unite and pass a parliamentary resolution condemning China before the Japan-U.S. summit on April 16. However, the Komei Party would not agree to this. As a result, We could not criticize China's oppression of Uyghurs as the will of the Diet before Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga visited the U.S. "
A little explanation is needed here.
In principle, the resolutions of each parliamentary group must be unanimous. If all the political parties except the observer, the Communist Party, do not agree with the solution, it cannot be passed in the Diet.
It is a long tradition in the Diet.
"Even after much exchange of opinions, the Komei Party insists that a Diet resolution is impossible. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) cannot ignore the will of the ruling coalition party, the Komei Party," said Mr. Furuya.
Another member of the Diet, who was instrumental in getting the Diet resolution passed, spoke anonymously.
"Looking at the mood of the Komeito lawmakers, they want to pass the resolution, too. But China is telling them that they can't do it. Anyway, they want to stop it before Prime Minister Suga visits the U.S., that's all. The initial strong language of the resolution condemning China has been gradually reduced to a flat expression that lacks any impact. Even so, the New Komeito says it is no good."