One Step toward War

Completely ignoring his responsibility for improving the relationship with China and South Korea, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Yasukuni Shrine on Thursday. While he justified his visit as praying for war victims and reassuring no-war resolution, the closest ally, the United States, expressed “disappointment” on his careless behavior. Abe has obviously spent his political capital for being honest to his core conservative supporters behind him.

In the press conference right after the worship, Abe stressed his intention to pay respect to the victims, to maintain Japan’s determination not to resort to wars, and not to harm sentiments of the Chinese and South Korea. But, he also revealed his recognition that his visit might be causing problems inside and outside of Japan. One gunshot on a man, even without intention of killing, may be called murder. Knowing the impact on the neighbors, he rather visited the shrine. Abe’s behavior cannot be said to be an intimidation.

Chinese Foreign Minister, Wan Yi, called away the Japanese Ambassador to China, Masato Kitera, and send rigid objection against Abe’s visit. Japanese Vice-Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked Chinese Ambassador to Japan safety of the Japanese in China. Japanese business entities in China are expecting negative actions of Chinese consumers. “It was anachronism that deeply undermine stability and cooperation in Northeast Asia,” told the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Yoo Jinryong, as the representative of state.

One unexpected result for Abe was strong opposition from U.S. The Embassy in Tokyo released a statement, which said “the United States is disappointed that Japan’s leadership has taken an action that will exacerbate tensions with Japan’s neighbors.” Staffs of the government of Japan was shocked by the fact that the statement was endorsed by the headquarters of the State Department in Washington, while they once underestimated it as a message solely from the Embassy. That showed the innocence of the Japanese about negative image on Japan in foreign countries. They simply regard Japan as one of the greatest economies.

It became mostly impossible for Abe to solve the problem in the relations with China and South Korea. His selfish behavior alienated himself, making distance from his colleagues in Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, neighbor counterparts and U.S. leaders. It is the ordinary people in Japan who suffer from an imprudent leader, even though it is a consequence of elections.