The author is Waseda University professor Satoshi Amako. Profile: Satoshi Amako became a Waseda University professor in April 2002, after working as an associate professor at Ryukyu University, professor at Kyoritsu Women's University, and professor at Aoyama Gakuin University. Amako, 56, specializes in modern Chinese theory and Asian political history. He believes that Japan must seriously consider its role in the international community in the 21st century as well as the agendas of humanity at a time when national interests and national security issues are rapidly changing. He has authored a book titled "How to deal with China." He is from Okayama Prefecture.

Japan, with the pride of being Asia's leader and with its economic growth-has contributed to the rest of Asia through financial aid. These efforts were made by professionals in diplomacy, mainly those in government. Japanese citizens have not raised particular doubts or questions about the nation's diplomacy.

But diplomacy today faces a turning point based largely on three issues: China's rising stature, Japan's shift in diplomacy with declining aid donations and the emerging element of citizens and private-sector entities in Japanese diplomacy.

The first factor that calls for a new diplomatic approach is the increasing political presence of China in Asia. China's pro-active policies are making an impression on the region. Recent actions include creating a mechanism for regional economic cooperation with Southeast Asian nations, including free-trade agreements, and its role in the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear threat.

Japan is much less active in its relations with other Asian countries. In free-trade negotiations, it continues to harbor strong opposition to liberating its agricultural market. Japan also remains passive in talks on North Korea because of complex issues, such as Pyongyang's abduction of Japanese nationals.

The important things in Japan's China policy are to accept the reality of a growing China and to strengthen a friendly and cooperative partnership with Beijing. At the same time, Japan should work in its own distinct way to create a stable environment for East Asia.

Japan needs to actively engage in international organizations such as APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) and ARF (ASEAN Regional Forum), maintain cooperative ties with the United States and focus on relations with Oceania and Taiwan.

The second factor pushing Japanese diplomacy to a turning point is the weakening of its aid diplomacy, since Japan's fiscal condition is worsening. We should also keep in mind that the goals of Japanese citizens have changed from merely seeking economic growth to seeking fulfillment in life.

While Japan maintains its power as an economic giant in terms of technology, labor and capital, it faces social problems that need to be tackled. Among the most pressing are its aging society, unemployment problems triggered by structural reform in industry and the establishment of social welfare systems to cope with the previous two issues.

Japan faces other social problems such as creating a sustainable society involving energy-saving measures and dealing with criminal acts committed by people from an increasing number of countries.

Japan's central and local governments as well as the private sector need to deal with these problems to mold a society that is easier to live in. We need a "model for a new Japan."

Issues such as the declining birthrates and aging populations, preventing environmental pollution, devising energy-saving measures and dealing with increasing crime are being addressed in Asian regions that have obtained a certain level of wealth. They are problems that we know will become serious.

Asian neighbors are watching to see how Japan, a pioneer in these issues, resolves the problems. If Japan can find solutions and share them with the rest of Asia, that will become a form of assistance that is clearly different from random distribution of aid. When that happens, Japan may become Asia's leader in a new and different way.

The third issue is who controls Japanese diplomacy. There is a strong link between Japan's revitalization and its diplomacy with the rest of Asia.

During the asylum incident in May 2002, in which North Korean refugees sought asylum in the Japanese consulate general in Shenyang nongovernmental organizations used the media to attract public attention. The declining authority of the Foreign Ministry, hit by scandal, became evident. That raised the question of who's in charge of Japanese diplomacy.

Japanese citizens and private-sector entities are becoming more prominent in international aid projects, such as efforts to create a new establishment in East Timor and work to extend humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and the Middle East.

Exchanges between the private sectors of two nations has significant importance in improving relations on a government level. This can be said of the Japan-China relationship.

We now need a mechanism, such as a comprehensive diplomatic strategy meeting, under which Japanese government officials and private-sector citizens engaged in international exchange can contemplate Japanese diplomacy and its basic framework.

We should develop a long-term strategy that focuses on Japan's co-existence with the international community and the Asian community, without being trapped by the limited definition of national interest.

To nurture that kind of vitality, politicians and diplomats must first have the composure to accept opinions different from their own. At the same time, every Japanese citizen must accept diplomacy as an issue close to themselves and not something that the establishment takes care of or something that others will deal with.