It shouldn't come as any surprise that International Whaling Commission (IWC) Chair, Bill Hogarth, is attempting to stifle debate and voting at the IWC conference in Chile.
It was only late last year that the US Dept. of Commerce through NOAA (for which Hogarth then worked) issued a press release which indicated a close relationship might be developing between the U.S. and Japan over future international commercial whaling.
The Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs appears to confirm this in a December 2007 official transcript of interview which indicates that Japan has some expectation that Hogarth is pursuing "normalisation" of the IWC which is expected to occur within 2 years.
The insertion of a U.S. based organisation, Pew Charitable Trust, into negotions over whaling led to the March 2008 closed-door IWC meeting which appeared ready to support Japan.
Indeed, Pew's involvement might be the vehicle being used by the U.S. to further Japan's aims.
But Japan is expecting more than a reform of tone. It wants to see some sign of progress towards the eventual approval of sustainable commercial whaling.
If it does not get that, it is likely to explore further the option of leaving the IWC and setting up a separate organisation of like-minded countries.
The Pew symposium suggested that some members of the anti-whaling bloc might not have too many problems with that, providing an extensive checklist of safeguards is introduced, possibly including elements such as
- limiting the species hunted
- deciding catch sizes internationally
- insisting on the observation of whale sanctuaries
- bringing scientific whaling under international oversight
It is becoming increasingly obvious that the U.S. is not adverse to assisting Japan broker a trade-off which would allow it to increase its coastal whaling in return for minimum concessions on its 'scientific' research.
Japan Today reported on 22 June 2008:
Even anti-whaling countries have shown concern about the course of the IWC, with some, including the United States, seeking establishment of a working group of 10 to 15 countries to discuss coastal whaling and research whaling.
Japan is currently Vice-Chair of the IWC and its veiled threat to withdraw from the commission is now firming into a public stance.
In Chile this week Japan continues to try and isolate Australia.
Australia is not a big export market for Japanese goods and services, nor does Japan invest heavily in this country.
How little importance Australia now holds for the Government of Japan is indicated by the schedule of VIP visits found at its own Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
The imbalance is clear over the last decade (list does not include Rudd, Smith and Crean visits to Japan since the November 2007 change of government in Australia).
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1957 | Prime Minister Robert Menzies |
| 1970 | Prime Minister John Gorton |
| 1973 | Prime Minister Edward Whitlam |
| 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982 | Prime Minister John Fraser |
| 1984, 1986, 1987, 1990 | Prime Minister Robert Hawke |
| 1992, 1994, 1995 | Prime Minister Paul Keating |
| 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005 | Prime Minister John Howard |
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1957 | Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi |
| 1963 | Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda |
| 1967 | Prime Minister Eisaku Sato |
| 1971 | Prince and Princess Mikasa (international conference) |
| 1971-73 | Prince Katsura (study) |
| 1973 | The Crown Prince and Crown Princess (the current Emperor and Empress) (goodwill visit) |
| 1974 | Prince Naruhito (the current Crown Prince) (tour) |
| 1974 | Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka |
| 1980 | Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira |
| 1982 | Prince Katsura (tenth anniversary of establishment of the Australia Japan Society) |
| 1985 | Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone |
| 1988 | Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita |
| 1992 | Princess Sayako (tour) |
| 1993 | Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa |
| 1993 | Prince and Princess Tomohito of Mikasa (discussions about educational assistance for children with hearing or sight impairments) |
| 1994 | Princess Tomohito of Mikasa and Prince Katsura (charity event to provide educational assistance for children with hearing or sight impairments) |
| 1995 | Prince and Princess Akishino (official visit) |
| 1997 | Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto |
| 2002 | Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi |
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