Exchange of Disappointments

Principle of reciprocity is a basis of international relations. How about counteraction against a criticism?

Seiichi Eto, an Adviser for Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, was grilled by media after he updated his comment in YouTube, which criticized the United States government’s comment of “disappointment” over Abe’s visit to Yasukuni Shrine. “We rather disappointed with them,” said Eto. Behind that, there is a serious irrelevance among some Japanese politicians who believe the alliance is absolute and forever.

Eto’s words looked something like quarrel of kids. Revealing that he visited the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo before Abe’s Yasukuni visit and received an advice of “be careful” from a Minister, Eto told in the webpage that “In terms of disappointed, we were rather disappointed. Why U.S. does not realize the importance of the alliance? U.S. is getting silent against China.”

Eto is a long-time legislator close to Abe affiliated in the same fraction in Liberal Democratic Party. As an advisor in charge of “important national policy,” Eto visited Washington D.C. last November to research possible reaction of Obama administration to Abe’s Yasukuni visit. He received a message from Assistant Secretary of State, Daniel Russel, that “If the prime minister do that, it will affect to U.S.-Japan relationship.” In spite of it, Abe visited Yasukuni next month.

Although the reason was not clear, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, instructed Eto to take the comment back and delete from the site. Eto promised to follow it. But he still argued that it was natural for him to dispute against the attitude of U.S. toward one of their most important ally. As a constant visitor to Yasukuni, Eto showed no regret about his dispute against U.S.

Such politicians do not, or never, acknowledge a historical fact that U.S. was a supporter of China to protect it from Japan’s promotion in the continent of Asia before the World War II. If Japan returns to pre-war condition, U.S. will easily get back to its former position, a supporter of China opposing Japan. No leader in Abe administration realizes this realism in international relations.

All those wrong decisions stemmed from a sense of fear. Abe is afraid of being drawn down again from leadership. That was why he took a position appeasing the conservatives which he politically relied on. His staffs are afraid of losing next election. His supporters are afraid of being marginalized by other politically moderate administration. So, cowardice covering Japan makes its diplomacy shrunk.