Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the United States Ichiro Fujisaki speaks often in Washington. He like to emphasize what he expects in his diplomatic mission. His first expectation and rule, is that he wants “no surprises” between the US and Japan.On Monday, March 9th, he was surprised; and not in the good way.A seemingly irrelevant House of Representatives resolution sponsored by a New Jersey Republican (Chris Smith) calling on Brazil to honor its commitment to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, suddenly became Japan’s problem. The Democratic leadership of the House decided that this resolution (H. Res. 125) was the perfect vehicle to address a number of related child abduction issues. Wronged parents can be very tenacious constituents.Thus, the Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee Howard Berman (D-CA) allowed the resolution to be amended to include language that pointed out other cases of unlawful child abduction. Some cases have been with countries that have signed the Hague Convention, but have demonstrated a pattern of noncompliance, such as Brazil, Bulgaria Chile, Ecuador, Germany, Greece, Mexico, Poland, and Venezuela. AND Countries that are NOT “partners with the United States under the Hague Convention” such as JAPAN, India, and Russia.The Resolution also included two examples of countries that have caused American parents-left-behind incredible grief: Brazil being one case and JAPAN being the other. It was not lost on members of Congress that Japan was being grouped with less “developed” countries like India and Russia.On March 11th, Mr. Berman agreed to “suspend the rules” (a common parliamentary procedure with noncontroversial legislation) and the Resolution sped through the HFAC and landed on the floor of the House also under the suspension of the rule. Several congressman gave prepared statements and Chairman Berman introduced the resolution and led the discussion (debate). Rep Xavier Becerra (D-CA) discussed the situation of Melissa Braden who was abducted to Japan. It appears Rep Smith called for a roll call vote (it is possible this was the result of last minute Japanese Embassy lobbying). I am not sure that was wise for Japan, but it was good for Mr. Smith. (you can find the discussion in the Congressional Record pp H3300-3305.]Under suspension of the rules, debate is limited and the vote is a voice vote with the result implying unanimous consent. With a roll call vote, everyone has to go on the record as to how he or she voted. Interestingly, 418 of the 435 members of the House were on the floor at the time. So the result was 418 voting for the resolution, making it unanimous–and embarrassing for Japan.This is not the first time Japan has been surprised by the US Congress by issues of values and law to which Tokyo is not a “partner” with the US. And it will not be the last.More on Melissa Braden. Link to original article.
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