Bush Is Dogged by 'Axis of Evil' in Visit to Japan
Asia: Protesters, media criticize remarks and express concern over Washington's plans.
February 19, 2002
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Los Angeles Times
By ROBIN WRIGHT and MARK MAGNIER, Times Staff Writers
TOKYO -- President Bush may be on a swing
through Asia, but the issue that is increasingly
shaping his visit, in public anyway, is the "axis of
evil."
Editorials are warning about the dangerous
implications for the world of the president's
characterization of Iraq, Iran and North Korea.
Demonstrators are protesting the possibility of a
new U.S. military campaign. And both Bush and his
senior staff are increasingly on the defensive as they
are deluged with questions about the
administration's plans for dealing with the three
countries.
"We want to resolve all issues peacefully, whether it
be Iraq, Iran or North Korea," the president said
Monday when pressed about his intentions by a
Japanese reporter at a joint news conference with
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
Afterward, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
hastened to tell reporters traveling with the
president that America's allies should not fear "a
state of war tomorrow." He added, "Let's not
swoon."
The president's six-day tour was designed to boost relations with the three
countries most critical to long-term U.S. interests in the Asia-Pacific region:
Japan, South Korea and China. Yet in an editorial, the Japanese daily Asahi
Shimbun charged that Bush's comments have increased regional tensions and
displayed a complete disregard for local sensitivities, while the Okinawa Times
said the U.S. is following a misguided law-of-the-jungle approach.
"America's aggressive threats, instead of reducing North Korea's isolation,
threaten to further isolate that country and spur instability," the Okinawa paper
said. "If America takes the military steps it's threatened, there's no logical basis
to its war on terror."
Student, labor and civic group protesters voiced their own disapproval of the
Bush comments Monday in a series of modest demonstrations in Tokyo,
Hiroshima and Osaka.
In one display, a band from the civic group Peace Boat danced in Tokyo's
crowded Shinjuku district sporting banners that read, "Who's the Real Axis of
Evil?" beside a cartoon of the president.
"Bush is evil axis No. 1," said Peace Boat spokeswoman Hanna Jongepier.
And Japan is likely to be the most receptive of the three nations Bush will visit.
Despite his attempt Monday to reassure America's allies, Bush continued to
hammer away at the theme of the United States' intent to deal with the "axis"
countries.
"There should be no mistake about it. We will defend our interests," he said at
the news conference.
When pressed on whether the U.S. would go it alone if coalition partners
balked, Bush replied, "We cannot allow nations that aren't transparent, nations
with a terrible history, nations that are so dictatorial they're willing to starve
their people, to mate up with terrorist organizations."
World leaders he's talked to "fully understand, exactly, what needs to happen,"
the president added.
Koizumi expressed strong support for the U.S.-led fight against terrorism. But
there are growing signs that the public in Japan, the closest U.S. ally in Asia, is
wary of what looks to be the next phase of the campaign--which could in turn
influence the government's position.
For many Japanese, Bush's good-versus-evil language is unsettling on less
concrete grounds, as the product of a world view that sees black and white but
doesn't always seem to appreciate the area in between where most people live.
"It underscores the rather childish U.S. diplomacy," said Kazuto Suzuki, a
professor at the University of Tsukuba. "He's thrown up a stereotype, but
there's no hard evidence behind his charges."
Military issues also remain controversial in a nation with a constitution that bans
the use of force in settling disputes. In addition, Japanese are concerned about
the costs at a time when their debt-laden nation faces both mounting budget
problems and the threat of a banking meltdown.
"Japan wants to know how much it will need to contribute to future
international efforts," said Tetsuo Maeda, a defense expert at Tokyo
International University. "We're already at the limit of what we can do
financially and politically."
Many Japanese also fear the repercussions of any campaign against Iran or
Iraq--countries from which Japan buys oil--or North Korea. In the Mideast,
the fallout could be substantial for an energy-dependent nation.
"Other Middle Eastern nations would react negatively to any attack, so any
move by Japan in support of a U.S. campaign could spell trouble for Japanese
energy security," said Isamu Nakashima, a researcher at the Middle East
Institute of Japan.
Japan is home to about 1.7 million residents of Korean descent. North Asians,
in addition, prefer accommodation over confrontation.
"If the U.S. pushes too hard, it could backfire," said Ken Takada, a
representative of the Coalition Against Constitutional Reform, a Tokyo-based
civic group.
Bush's comments have already angered many second- and third-generation
Koreans living in Japan's second-largest city, said Tokuo Baba, a
representative of the Osaka Municipal Labor Union.
"They completely undermine efforts to work toward peace on the Korean
peninsula," he said.
Koizumi and Bush tried to make light of the "evil axis" questions.
"This is the arrow to beat the evil and bring you everlasting peace," Koizumi
said before presenting Bush with a print of a samurai rider--whose face
resembled the president's--shooting a bow and arrow.
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