Stuck in Tag of War

The government of Japan and the United States agreed on the schedule of President Barack Obama visiting Japan late April. In spite of short visit, Japan is welcoming him with the protocol of state visit. While there would be a number of issues to talk with, Japanese media focuses on Obama’s effort as an arbitrator between Japan and South Korea. Obama’s round trip to Asia may be fallen in the tag of war between Japan and South Korea.

Obama is visiting Japan on 22^nd and 23^rd of April, followed by visits to South Korea, Malaysia and Philippine. The White House recognizes the trip “as a part of his ongoing commitment to increase U.S. diplomatic, economic and security engagement with countries in the Asia-Pacific region.”

In terms of economy, Obama will raise the issue of free trade frameworks represented by controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership and bilateral free trade agreement with South Korea. He will also stress the close tie with South Korea to watch the situation of nuclear weapons and missile development in North Korea. But, the key issue must be diplomacy. While he tries to maintain stable relationship with Asian countries to face emerging China, the problem is quarrel between Japan and South Korea.

U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, urged South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yun Byung-se, to improve the relationship with Japan in a bilateral meeting in Seoul. “Not only history issues, we have a lot of problems in security issue,” told Kerry in joint press conference with Yun. That was an effort of Kerry not letting Obama’s visit get stuck in the deteriorated relationship between Japan and South Korea.

However, both nations insisted on which side U.S. stood closer. In the press conference, South Korean reporters argued that basic reason of the deterioration should be attributed to behavior of Japanese Premier, Shinzo Abe. Kerry had to admit that U.S. also possessed different view from Abe’s.

Making sharp contrast, some Japanese newspaper reported that Kerry took a standpoint closer to Japan by urging South Korea’s approach to Japan. As long as history matters, the Japanese and South Koreans are ignoring national interests gained by international stability in Asia.

It is unclear so far whether Obama will be able to achieve as successful results as he is wishing. To construct viable security system to deal with the assertive behavior of China, it is indispensable for U.S. to establish fully cooperative environment in the region. Considering the deepness of historical dispute, the situation will not be changed unless Obama brings an actual solution.