TOKYO —

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda needs ‘‘reliable and powerful allies’’ among the leaders of the Group of Eight nations to steer the summit as the host, but that is unlikely to happen before the high-profile event in July, former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone said Saturday. ‘‘I’m very concerned about Japan’s current position,’’ said Nakasone, who chaired the 1986 summit in Tokyo, referring to the country’s political stalemate in the divided Diet, which has hampered Fukuda’s efforts to fully engage in diplomacy.

‘‘For me, there was U.S. President Ronald Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher...It’s too bad for Prime Minister Fukuda, but it seems that he will convene the summit without a leeway of getting such an ally,’’ he said. Calling the summit the ‘‘Olympics of politics,’’ Nakasone also encouraged Fukuda not to be overwhelmed by the ‘‘powerful European and U.S. players.’’ ‘‘Diplomacy is not something foreign ministers do. The prime minister should firmly keep in mind that it is the top leaders of the countries that do it,’’ Nakasone said. Nakasone, 89, served as prime minister from 1982 to 1987 and chaired the summit in 1986, which then consisted of seven countries. 

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7 Comments

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  some14some at 03:14 PM JST - 3rd May

  If no 'reliable' allies trust Hu, and luckily Nakasone just met him in Beijing recently.

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  nutsagain at 05:16 PM JST - 3rd May

  I think Mr. Nakasone should concentrate on keeping his barcode hairdo in check and leave matters of state to others. Never an effective leader, and always one to pander the Right, this geriatric drop-kick should be out to pasture and reflect on his involvement in the Recruit scandal and his racist remarks. Who could forget 'Japan's success is due to the fact that we don't have minority groups.'

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  huberts2 at 07:55 PM JST - 3rd May

  Fukuda To some14some -- China is not a member of the Group of Eight. To nutsagain -- Nakasone is right. Fukuda is not an internationalist; he has not made any apparent effort to develop any personal relationships with others 'among' the Group. I have no recollection of him visiting the other leaders. Nakasone on the contrary was well known as "Ron" by most other leaders including those he mentions. Japan seems too often to leave the building of it's country's international relationships to businessmen. The extent to which diplomats try that they cannot match the results of a Prime Minister who goes out of his way to get to understand and know other leaders. When the other seven turn up for the meeting they will no doubt be very generously treated to the best of facilities etc but I suspect they will be greeted by an almost stranger.

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  NeoJamal at 11:59 PM JST - 3rd May

  Japan can't rely on itself, an apathetic public against ingrained constitution imposed problems and naivety about foreign affairs (such as global nuke disarmorment pfffffft) are burdensome factors against Japan realising its own diplomatic potential.

  Even if Japan tries to look for allies, in the post-Cold War environment unlike Nakasone's times it will be hard to find other G8, preferably permanent UN Security Council Member states that have a common security interest with Japan. So ultimately it's up to Japan to look after its own.

  If anything should happen to Japan, the voters only have themselves to blame, but they still wouldn't realise that and will merely cite: 'shikata ga nai'.

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  bebert at 11:41 AM JST - 4th May

  Fukuda is not an internationalist; he has not made any apparent effort to develop any personal relationships with others 'among' the Group.

  Would you? Outside of Putin - who is now gone - there is not a man of honor among them. I'm surprised more of them aren't dodging criminal charges.

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  some14some at 03:05 PM JST - 4th May

  Fukuda To some14some -- China is not a member of the Group of Eight

  No, Fukuda can't respond like that. Ofcourse China is NOT G-8 member (either China or Russia will replace Japan, a matter of time) however, Hu the President of China is invited as an observer and as a Guest at this summit. China is playing very important role when Advance Countries are facing economic problems.

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  OssanULTRA at 11:58 PM JST - 4th May

  "China is playing very important role"

  Yes, China is polluting the planet the most.

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