To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan (1973-2013), on the morning of March 19, 2013, the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam, in collaboration with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, organized an open presentation on the topic: "Japan's New International Relations with a Focus on Japan-China-America Relations and the Southeast Asian Region."Attending the presentation on the Japanese side were Mr. Yukio Saita, Counselor of the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam; Mr. Inami Kazumi, Director of the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam, representing the diplomatic mission in Hanoi; and two speakers from Japan: Professor Soeya Yoshihide, Director of the East Asian Research Institute, Keio University; and Professor Watanabe Yasushi, Department of Environmental and Information Studies, Graduate School of Communication and Politics, Keio University. On the Vietnamese side, the presentation was attended by experts, scientists, and researchers from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, the Institutes for Chinese Studies, American Studies, Northeast Asian Studies, Middle Eastern and African Studies, Hanoi National University of Education 1, lecturers from departments such as Oriental Studies, International Studies, History, Political Science, and nearly 400 doctoral candidates, graduate students, and undergraduates.
On behalf of the university leadership, in his opening remarks, Associate Professor Pham Quang Minh – Vice Rector – thanked the Japan Foundation's Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam for its initiative in co-organizing this presentation on such an important topic, and thanked the two scholars from Keio University and all the interested individuals who attended the event. Associate Professor Pham Quang Minh emphasized: “Since the end of the Cold War, and especially since the beginning of the 21st century, the geopolitical and security environment in East Asia has undergone tremendous changes due to the impact of increasing traditional security issues, sovereignty disputes in the East China Sea and South China Sea, the US pivot to Asia strategy, and the rise of China…. Faced with these challenges, both Japan and Vietnam must adjust their policies by strengthening cooperation with each other.”
Following this, Professor Yoshihide Soeya gave a presentation on "The Rise of China and Japan's Responses: Implications for Regional Security," and Professor Yasishi Watanabe presented on "Soft Power and Japan's International Cultural Engagements." In his presentation, Professor Yoshihide Soeya emphasized that changes in the region, especially China's policy towards the Senkaku Islands (which China calls Diaoyu), are challenging the peace and security of Japan in particular and the region in general. According to Professor Soeya, the implication of this challenge is China's desire to restore its "Greater Han spirit" combined with nationalism fueled by the "humiliation" of China's unfair treatment by Western countries during the Opium Wars. Secondly, this challenge also stems from China's belief in its sovereignty and territorial integrity, which constitute its "core interests." Faced with these challenges, Japan has exercised restraint and hoped that Sino-Japanese relations would remain controlled. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for building a "mutually beneficial relationship based on shared strategic interests" with China. "The door is always wide open for Chinese leaders." However, the obstacle and dilemma for Japan-China relations is the US-Japan alliance. In fact, Professor Soeya concludes that Asian nations are facing a historical challenge brought about by the rise of China and must find a way to survive within that system. Vietnam and Japan share many similarities in tradition and culture, and both countries share a common stance on territorial and regional disputes under international law. Therefore, Professor Yoshihide Soeya believes that Japan and Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, need to strengthen mutual understanding, share consensus, and have a common voice and mindset.
In the context of the new international landscape, Japan's focus is on strengthening public diplomacy with the United States and other countries, a point shared by Professor Yasushi Watanabe in his presentation on "Japan's Soft Power and Cultural Commitment". Professor Watanabe particularly emphasized the effectiveness of Japan's use of "soft power" through public diplomacy, noting that "diplomatic efforts aimed at winning the hearts and minds of foreign publics" are a form of soft power. He then reviewed the development of Japan's soft power from the Meiji Restoration, when the government used 1% of the state budget to support Japan's participation in the Vienna Exhibition in 1873. As early as 1934, Japan established the International Cultural Promotion Association – the predecessor of today's Japan Foundation. Since World War II, Japan's cultural diplomacy strategy has gone through four main stages: "Negative Exceptionalism" (1945-1954), "Historical Relativism" (1955-1963), "Positive Exceptionalism" (1964-1983), and "Universalism". "General" (since 1984). Currently, the focus of Japan's cultural diplomacy policy is proactiveness and experience sharing. In this field, Japan and Vietnam have close cooperation, a vivid example being the "Pinky Teen" program, a collaboration between NHK World and HTV3 television. Following the presentations by the two professors, Vietnamese experts, including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Khac Nam (Faculty of International Studies), Prof. Nguyen Thiet Son (Institute of American Studies), and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quy Long (Institute of Northeast Asian Studies), commented and exchanged views on the issues presented by the two scholars. Many professors, scholars, researchers, lecturers, and students also had the opportunity to comment, exchange, and share opinions on the topics presented by Prof. Dr. Yoshihide Soeya and Prof. Dr. Yasushi Watanabe. Many opinions suggest that in light of the new changes in international relations, Japan needs We must adjust our foreign policy, playing a more active, proactive, and constructive role for the peace and stability of the region and the world.
Concluding the seminar, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh once again thanked Prof. Yoshihide Soeya and Prof. Yasushi Watanabe, along with the Japan Foundation Center for International Cultural Exchange, for the insightful and interesting seminar. As an educational and research institution, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities is committed to further strengthening cooperation with Japanese universities and experts to develop "two-channel diplomacy," contributing to mutual understanding between nations, and promoting peace and friendship.
