Compromise in Diplomatic Schedule

Governments of Japan and China are reaching an agreement on the schedule of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to visit Beijing in the afternoon on September 3^rd. It will be the first visit for Abe, since he took the seat in December 2012. China’s flexible attitude can seem to be to some extent satisfied with the context of Abe statement delivered last Friday, which referred to apology or deep remorse expressed by former Prime Ministers. Whether the event will lead to fundamental reconciliation in the bilateral relationship is still unclear.

Mainichi Shimbun reported that Chinese government had decided to accept Abe after military parade cerebrating victory against Japan in the morning of September 3^rd, to which the government had been requesting Abe to attend. Abe was reluctant to attend the parade, as well as important address of Chinese President Xi Jinping in it, because the event would be held mainly for military purpose. So, both governments are discussing Abe’s visit starting with memorial reception in the afternoon, to which more than fifty national leaders were invited.

Chinese government laid three conditions for Abe’s visit before or after September 3^rd: implementation of four political documents between the two nations, succeeding the spirit of Murayama Statement 1995, and receiving message of not visiting Yasukuni Shrine. Abe’s statement for seventy-year anniversary and news report of not to visit Yasukuni Shrine on August 15^th was acceptable for Chinese government as a positive messages to Beijing.

As released, Abe’s statement was not enough to be an expression of his personal apology to the devastation Imperial Japan brought to Asian nations. The fact that Chinese government accepted that unclear message shows its eagerness for improving bilateral relation with Japan, in a period of declining economy and necessity of exhibiting moderate relation with its neighbor countries. Responding to invitation from Beijing, Russia and Mongol will send their top leaders. Republic of Korea is also positive to send the President, while Democratic People’s Republic of Korea still reluctant to send its First Secretary of Korean Labor Party, Kim Jong-un.

In the international event, Abe also expects to have an opportunity to talk with Russian President, Vladimir Putin, with whom Abe had agreed to visit Japan later this year. However, it is unlikely to achieve a progress in the territorial issue in the environment that Russia has deep trouble in relation with the Western nations over Ukraine.