By Izumi Okuhara

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a window into Japanese diplomacy. Recently, scandals of officials have been disclosed, and the problems are being debated all over the world. The officers who shoulder the general diplomacy in Japan and are dispatched as specialists, seem to forget their role. Many Japanese are worried that they donﾕt understand their responsibility.

One example is the situation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as evident in the Consulate General Affair in Shen yang, China. Koreshige Anami, who is the Japanese ambassador to China, instructed officials to eject unidentified foreigners from the embassy. Therefore, officials stood and watched as Chinese police officers removed the Democratic Peopleﾕs Republic of Korea exiles. In addition, they returned a letter from Chinese officials asking for permission to take the exiles because they couldnﾕt understand it, as it was written in English. A video captured one official picking up a Chinese police officerﾕs hat when the incident happened. Why did the officer just stand and do nothing? In addition, it is incredible that the official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs canﾕt understand English. That the officials used this excuse to justify their conduct is unacceptable.

The Ambassador has been criticized by the government and opposition parties for this incident. Even if some of the officials took responsibility, there will be no change unless the nature of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is improved. Fundamental reform is necessary, since the whole the Ministry of Foreign Affair has gone bad. This event resulted in the disclosure of a dualism of diplomacy. That is to say, what they say is different from what they do.

The claims of China and Japan about this incident were different. Japan claimed that　Chinese police officers came in the Consulate General without permission, which is a violation of the Geneva Convention. On the other hand, China pointed out the fact that the Japanese official returned the letter without reading it. Japanese officials denied the matter at first, but later they admitted it. This shows the nature of the officials who try to hide troublesome things. The family was eventually sent to the Republic of Korea, but this problem is still unresolved politically. More attention has to be paid to the facts of this incident and how to cope better with problems.

Japan has been criticized all over the world for this incident. Amnesty International, which is an association for the protection of human rights, said, ﾒWe should a question how Japan has coped with this incident,ﾓ and ﾒJapanese and Chinese make light of refugees who look for protection.ﾓ In addition, they commented that "This incident demonstrated the problem among the three nations, Japan, China, and the Democratic Peopleﾕs Republic of Korea." It is necessary to resolve the incident quickly and reform the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs official mustnﾕt let this happen again.

During World War II, there was a diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stationed in Lithuania named Chiune Sugihara. He issued visas for 6,000 Jews who wanted to escape from the Nazis by going to America or Israel via Japan. The Japanese government denied Mr. Sugihara's request three times. He decided to help the Jews anyway when he received an order to return to Japan. On his way out of Lithuania, he continued to write visas without sleep until he could no longer hold a pen. He knew that he would lose his job because he didnﾕt obey the government's orders. He saved the lives of 6,000 Jews instead of his status. He is a true diplomat, and is different from present diplomats. Are there diplomats who act for human rights like him now? Diplomats who only defend themselves arenﾕt needed. A proper diplomat must become a guidepost of Japanese diplomacy, and act quickly when a problem occurs. However, present diplomats are conservative, and donﾕt think about the nation and Japanese diplomacy. Such officials shouldnﾕt become diplomats. It is hoped that diplomats who can act with responsibility will increase in Japan.