For Lazy Prime Minister

Everybody is making deliberated effort for that lazy Prime Minister. Former Prime Minister, Yasuo Fukuda, met with Chinese top leader, Xi Jinping, in Beijing only for resulting in no achievement in the biggest issue between two nations; having a top meeting next month. Although some Japanese officials are optimistic on the meeting, it is unclear whether Xi accepts the offer as long as Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, will not drop the future option to visit Yasukuni Shrine again.

Fukuda visited Beijing as the leader of a Chinese-hosted economic conference, Boao Forum for Asia. He met with Xi after a meeting of other officials and exchanged opinion on economic cooperation between Japan and China. “The cooperation by Asian nations are positive for the future and the possibility of development is ample. Continuous promotion of China will significantly contribute to Asian development,” told Xi, according to Chinese media. Fukuda acknowledged China’s role in the world society.

Something unusual was Chinese government was open to reporters for covering the meeting between Xi and Fukuda. In the advent to Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders meeting in Beijing next month, Beijing government looks like nervous on appealing its leadership, in front of the eyes of other major leaders, such as Barack Obama or Vladimir Putin.

However, China has not dropped its appeal that it is Japan that needs to change attitude. Although Fukuda secretly met with Xi late July, the bilateral relationship has not seen any progress. It is obvious that China is using a strategy, distinguishing other Japanese leaders from Abe. A week before Fukuda’s visit, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Taro Aso, unofficially met with a Chinese Vice-Prime Minister, taking opportunity of international conference in Beijing. It seems to be alienating the ultra-right leader of Japan.

It is not about China. A delegation of Japanese lawmakers with close relationship with South Korea visited Seoul and met with President Park Geun-hye last week. Although the head of the delegation, Fukushiro Nukaga, former Minister of Defense, asked Park to have summit meeting with Abe, Park gave no assurance of it. The obstacle between two nations is comfort woman. “Comfort woman issue is the first button for Korea-Japan relationship to make new departure,” told Park to Nukaga. She required measures for those women to regain their honor within their lifetime.

It is highly unlikely for two leaders to have a meeting in APEC conference, because of South Korean government’s indictment of bureau chief of ultra-right Sankei newspaper. Relationship between Japan and South Korea is worse than Sino-Japan relationship.