One of Few Common Topics

Leaders of Japan and Germany agreed with their greatest common divisor, which was helping Ukraine. However, each of them was watching different things. Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, wanted to take advantage of Ukraine crisis for deterring China. Chancellor, Angela Merkel, did it for dealing with Russia. It was also common for them not to have clear perspectives for their purpose. Leaders talk between top economic runners of Asia and Europe was unproductive.

On support for Ukraine, Abe and Merkel agreed on close cooperation for settling the situation. Merkel told necessity of releasing observers of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe captured by pro-Russian militia group. “We should not be afraid of further sanctions,” told her. Abe explained Japan’s effort for Ukraine, which included €300 thousand of urgent support for European Council and €500 thousand of donation for OSCE special observers.

On the other hand, they emphasized the importance of dialogue with Russia for their own reasons. Merkel urged Russia to do more for easing tense in Ukraine. Abe, with relatively moderate relationship with Russian President, Vladimir Putin, criticized Russia specifically in terms of incorrectness on unilateral change of status quo. He had been afraid of Russia more cooperative with China, receiving pressure from Western countries.

For Germany dependent on Russia for thirty percent of its natural gas, Ukraine problem directly affects to the life of ordinary people. If Russia takes strong position on Northern Territory, it does not matter for most people in Japan. That was the difference of impact between the two.

Moreover, Germany takes a neutral stance between Japan and China. China is the biggest external trader for European Union. Chinese President, Xi Jinping, made a speech in Germany last March, in which he denounced Japan of war crimes including Nanjing Massacre. Although Abe tried to improve Japan’s image in Germany, the result was not clear.

There was no big progress on economic talks. They only shared a notion that negotiation over economic partnership agreement between Japan and EU should be settled soon. There was no report on cooperation on renewable energy, which Japan needed to learn from Germany most. Economic relationship between those two looked going no way. Even how those two great economies talk about politics without big three great powers, U.S., China and Russia, it has no actual power on critical problem in international relations.