Not Obtaining Advantage from China

In a backdrop of the international leaders meeting of Group of 20, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a hotel Xi was staying in Hamburg, Germany, on Saturday. Xi drew from Abe a firm recognition on Chinese international strategy called “One Belt, One Road. So what did Abe get in turn? To the request of Abe to pose severer sanction on North Korea, Xi just criticized unilateral sanction such as what Japan had been doing. It is not easy for Abe to draw advantage from Xi.

It was the first bilateral meeting for both leaders, since they had met in Lima, Peru, taking opportunity of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit last November. Abe announced that Japan would cooperate with One Belt, One Road with condition of preserving fairness in the process. “It is an initiative full of potentiality,” said Abe, “and I expect China to positively contribute regional and world peace and prosperity by introducing common idea of international society,” told Abe.

Xi welcomed positive response of Abe on the Chinese initiative independent from traditional framework of developed countries. “Economy and trade cooperation is a device for promoting Sino-Japanese relationship. I welcome Japan to expand cooperation with the framework of One Belt, One Road,” said Xi. Both leaders agreed on enhancing direct dialogue in the process of improving bilateral relationship and Abe proposed leader’s mutual visits for each other.

While Abe insisted on further pressure on North Korea, which was not abiding by consecutive requests to drop nuclear and missile development, asking constructive role of China in the issue. Xi was reluctant to pose pressure on Kim Jong-un regime, more focusing on multilateral discussion with North Korea. Bilateral deal over bilateral economic cooperation and North Korea did not stand.

Abe wanted a momentum for re-boosting his administration, suffering from historical defeat of Liberal Democratic Party in the election of Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly or consecutive scandal around him, through diplomatic achievement in G20. With no progress in Northern Territory issue with Russia or in abductees issue with North Korea, Abe saw China as one of the few hopes. He indicated bold compromise with China before leaving to Hamburg.

However, bilateral relationship between Japan and China is still far from normal condition. Chinese official ships are still sticking around Senkaku Islands in East China Sea, often invading Japanese territory. Cases of the invasion are not reducing but increasing. With unreliable unilateral administration in United States, Japan’s diplomatic card against China is actually limited.