As the world comes to terms with the massive defeat of the Liberal Democratic Party in Sunday’s elections in Japan, the big question is about the future of Tokyo’s relations with Washington and Beijing. If the victorious Democratic Party of Japan does move in the direction it has promised, China is likely to be the biggest beneficiary and America the biggest loser.

Most Japan experts insist big changes are unlikely in Tokyo’s foreign policy. They say governing is not the same as campaigning. They argue that DPJ is a fractious coalition that includes many different political trends.

In his comments published last week in ‘New York Times’, the next prime minister of Japan, Yukio Hatoyama, was sharply critical of the United States and called for a more ‘independent’ foreign policy that is focused on improving ties with the Asian neighbours.

“How should Japan maintain it’s political and economic independence and protect its national interest when caught between the United States, which is fighting to retain its position as the world’s dominant power, and China, which is seeking ways to become dominant?”

Although Hatoyama did not answer the question directly, he was in fact establishing some kind of equivalence between America and China after sixty years of alliance with the former. Clearly, Hatoyama is heralding a tectonic shift in Japan’s world view.

Hatoyama’s veiled answer should be worrisome for the United States — distance Tokyo a bit from Washington and draw closer to Beijing. Hatoyama has also talked of redefining the terms of American military presence in Japan and ending Tokyo’s logistical support to US military operations in Afghanistan.

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