A Comparative Analysis of Foreign Policy Speeches of 2011 and 2021

Ten years ago, then foreign minister Maehara delivered the Japanese foreign policy speech to the Diet. He focused on Japan’s formidable economy. Now that we know Japan’s economic situation, therefore nobody thinks that Japan should take advantage of its economic power. We have to say that Japan’s 2011 foreign policy was wrong in orientation. How about 2021’s foreign policy? The speech was delivered by foreign minister Motegi, who attached weight on the Japan-US security treaty. It is cliché and lacks in creativity. In this article, comparing the foreign policy speeches of 2011 and 2021, I illuminate some interesting and conspicuous differences as well as similarity. In 2011, the foreign minister used the word of “environment” 12 times in the speech, while in 2021, Minister Motegi did not use the word at all. Japan obviously put emphasis on reconstruction of Afghanistan and democratization of Myanmar, both nations deplorably taking different political route. Japan’s foreign policy speeches should have mentioned these failures. Although two different political parties took power in these years, the content of the speeches had a lot of similarities. Considering the global dynamics today, Japan needs some innovative principles in foreign policy. Thus, this article insists on a “democratic foreign policy.