Different Dreams on a Bed

Japan and the United States could finally avoid a miserable failure of top leaders meeting without any conclusive document. Japan-U.S. Joint Statement titled “Japan and the United States: Shaping the Future of the Asia-Pacific and Beyond” boasted that their alliance was cornerstone for regional peace and security as well as a platform for global cooperation. That was one thing. Another was that their relationship would not be functional so much.

The statement was overwhelmingly a firm message to China, which had been assertive in seeking their core interests in territory and sovereignty. Japan and U.S. reaffirmed “the importance of maintaining a maritime order based upon respect for international law, including the freedom of navigation and overflight.” Without referring to the name of China, they shared strong concern over uncoordinated declaration of an Air Defense Identification Zone in the East China Sea. “Our two countries oppose any attempt to assert territorial or maritime claims through the use of intimidation, coercion or force,” told the statement, delivering strong message to new Asian giant.

Japan and U.S., however, share only a part of interest in terms of dealing with China. Looking down China from a viewpoint of former colonial ruler, Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, does not care China’s appeal not to adore war criminals. Abe’s explanation on his visit to Yasukuni Shirine, which was something like “I did it to pray for war victims that all leaders do,” was meanwhile as to say “It is none of your business, China.”

U.S. has been continuing discussion at the table of “new great powers deal” set by China. In that bilateral talk, China offered divided control of the Pacific Ocean shared by China and U.S. Even though it would never be acceptable, U.S. cannot escape from seduction of great market of Asian continent. Trans-Pacific Partnership is a device for rule making in investment and trade in Asia, where China is seeking interest.

It was not strange that U.S. President, Barack Obama, assured Abe not to introduce confusion in the situation in Northeast Asia. “[A]s I’ve said directly to the Prime Minister that it would be a profound mistake to continue to see escalation around this issue rather than dialogue and confidence-building measures between Japan and China,” said Obama at the press conference after the meeting with Abe. Kyodo News reported it as looked like lecture of a teacher.

That sober environment indicated delicate bilateral relationship between Japan and U.S., in which another silly behavior of a nationalist leader of Japan can abruptly be damaging it. Also accelerated by stalemate over TPP, Japan-U.S. alliance is showing vulnerability against emerging big power in Asia.