Casting Shadows on Alliance

As one of the results of Ministers’ visit to Yasukuni Shrine, newspapers in Japan seriously reported the meeting of diplomatic leaders between the United States and South Korea. According to the reports, U.S. showed reluctance to raise the issue, while South Korea accused Japan as disturbing reconciliation between those two countries. Ignoring concerns on instability of allies in Northeast Asia, Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, simply keeps on justifying his action.

The Foreign Minister of South Korea, Yun Byung-se, met U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, in Washington on Tuesday. After the meeting, Yun criticized Abe’s Yasukuni visit as saying “History issue is disturbing regional reconciliation and cooperation.” Kerry did not touch on Yasukuni issue in his press conference after meeting Yun. Although it was unlikely that U.S. kept on saying “disappointment” to its ally, Japanese media focused on the fact that Kerry did not reiterate the phrase. In his press conference, Kerry rejected questions from the press corps.

For U.S., Japan still is an important ally in its strategy of deeper engagement in Asia. It is unfavorable for U.S. to invite a situation that disturbs deterrence against China. On the other hand, U.S. is reluctant to be involved in quarrels among Asian nations by joining it carelessly. President Barack Obama would not want to be accused by American people with excessive involvement in troubles in Asia, when he is busy for domestic issues.

Understanding, or misunderstanding, U.S. necessity of its Asian ally, Abe seems that he does not care about concern of its “indispensable” ally. In the radio discussion on Wednesday, Abe criticized China as increasing military budget by annual 10% or more for over consecutive twenty years. “It is wrong not to do a thing because someone criticizes. I will do my appropriate job,” also told Abe on Yasukuni visit. Liberal Democratic Party is going to drop the words of “praying for no war” and “consistent on the concept of peaceful nation” from the platform of 2014, assumed to be resolved in annual national convention later this month.

Asahi Shimbun reported on Thursday that China cancelled three events of exchanging journalists, college students and mid-school students with Japan, in which the applicants planned to visit Japan for a week. South Korea is highly reluctant to have a leaders talk with Japan, making the trilateral ally including U.S. less able. Abe embarks on a trip to Africa on Thursday. It is obviously an escape from complicated relationship with Asian neighbors.