Criticizing Obama as Quibbling

Was it an effusion of right wing freaks frustrated with intervention of the United States or simply an evidence that conservatives in Liberal Democratic Party were naïve in international relations? According to Kyodo News, Hagiuda Kouichi, a Special Adviser of Chairman of LDP, Shinzo Abe, scolded U.S. President Barack Obama that he had too much been quibbling with Abe’s visit to Yasukuni Shrine. It is quite unusual for a close adviser of Japanese Prime Minister to criticize Japan’s “indispensable ally,” a phrase Abe liked to use.

In his speech to his colleagues in LDP on Friday, Hagiuda raised the response of U.S. government, “disappointment” on Abe’s visit to Yasukuni Shrine. “U.S. had never quibbled like this during GOP administration. It is because Democratic administration, because Obama administration, that U.S. says such a thing,” told Hagiuda, according to Kyodo. “If Japan says that visiting Arlington Cemetery is wrong,” added Hagiuda, “does U.S. refrain from doing that? They would say ‘It’s none of your business.’”

The reason why U.S. refrained from criticizing the Premier Jun-ichiro Koizumi was because doing that would benefit U.S. national interest at the time it had seriously been involved in the War on Terrorism. There also was close personal relationship between both leaders, George W. Bush and Koizumi. Now, stimulating China obviously does not promote U.S. interest and Abe does not have a positive relationship with Obama. U.S. disappointment was a natural consequence of ignoring U.S. viewpoints toward Japan.

Not a long time friend, though, Hagiuda is one of the desperate revisionists around Abe. He upholds the idea that it is natural for national leaders to express regret to war victims, and has skepticism against coercion of suicide to people in Okinawa by Japanese Imperial Army. He also advocates Japan’s possession of nuclear weapons, if international situation requires it. When Abe refrained from visiting Yasukuni on August 15^th last year, Hagiuda brought ritual donation to Yasukuni on behalf of Abe. “It is necessary for us to explain our viewpoints without timid concern on others’ response,” said Hagiuda.

The conservatives in Japan are too shortsighted to appropriately understand liquidated international relationships. They expect unconditional support from U.S. as implementation of security treaty with Japan. But if it does not contribute to its interest, U.S. would be reluctant to follow the provision. Before becoming an ally of Japan, U.S. has been on the same side of China from wartime. Moreover, U.S. is playing a great game with China in Pacific Ocean, not welcoming an uncontrollable wildcard.