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Abe arrives in Boston to kick off weeklong U.S. visit

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By MARI YAMAGUCHI

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<http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/past-and-future-hang-heavy-as-abe-heads-to-u-s

that is related to the same topic of this one, I had forgot to comment this:

I hope, though, that Congress isn't duped by this fool.

Smith...so do you really think the American Congress doesn't know who Abe is? What is the American Congress, a bunch of poor innocent little kids?

And your comment also got many thumbs up...I don't even. Tons of Americans are really completely brainwashed. They believe in American exceptionalism, so everything America does, to them is always the lesser of two evils. Many of them think it's perfectly normal to fight terrorism by war, invading every country they like. Some of them are proud to have nuked a country. They call "collateral effect" the thousands of innocent people killed by their drones in their crazy wars. They see enemies everywhere, that can suddenly become their friends when it's convenient to them (see Iran or Cuba). They destabilized world economy with their huge debts, because they spend more than they can, and now just because their economy improved slightly, after their government printed tons of dollars, they think they can teach the others like to handle economy properly. They hate China even if China did nothing to them, and they created anti-China propaganda just because China probably will become the first hegemonic power in the world (and I doubt it will do it following warmongering American policy). They think it's right to treat their allies like inferior countries just because they won WWII 70 years ago and they have bases everywhere around the world. They call "Anti-American" every foreigner who will criticize their government or their general attitude of superiority towards the whole world. The list is long, but I'll stop here.

About what Abe will say...the matter is a bit complicated. According to the US political agenda of pivot to Asia, it's okay if Japan has unfriendly relations with China, but it would be better if it had good relations with S.Korea. The main point is that if he apologized to S.Korea, and not also to China, the anti-Chinese American agenda would be too blatant. Abe is a nationalist who hopes his country can get a major role in Asia and in the world serving the American interests in the best way possible, but he is only a poor deluded man, whose country would enjoy major prosperity winning China friendship.

-7 ( +9 / -16 )

Japan's military role is currently limited to its own self-defense, and the country's war-renouncing constitution still prohibits pre-emptive strikes, leaving any offensive action to the U.S.

This seems very good for Japan and makes Japan constantly peaceful, so it would never start or get involved with stupid wars in the future. I hope never changed.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Of course, my comment will get tons of thumbs down, it's so predictable, even though what I described it's what is happening in the world now. Also some honest and humble American people are able to see how their government completely went crazy.

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

Alex80: "About what Abe will say...the matter is a bit complicated."

Not really. He's an idiot who has taken his nationalist agenda and put Japan in danger. Now more than ever Japan needs the US' protection because of said danger, but because Abe has made such an arse of Japan in Asia and beyond he can't touch on history except to try and brag about how Japan is peaceful, and instead plans to try and win over US opinion by promise of lucrative defense contracts and pushing the mutual defense angle. He can therefore avoid discussing the fact that they NEED further defense because of his actions, and that few back home even agree with this plans to ship Japanese troops abroad, change the constitution, lie about history, etc.

The reason you got all the thumbs down, by the way, is because you take every thread and make it about bashing the US, regardless of whether the US is even involved in any way or not. Just the other day on a thread about Japan you were ranting about the US.

"They call "Anti-American" every foreigner who will criticize their government or their general attitude of superiority towards the whole world."

No, they call people who are clearly anti-American anti-American. When you take a thread about Japan's deteriorating relations with China, for example, and start blaming it on the US invasion of Iraq -- that's just plain silly, to put it nicely. And I'm not even American!

"Smith...so do you really think the American Congress doesn't know who Abe is?"

Of course they do, but it's easy to put personal agendas before the best interest of either region -- hence me saying I hope they don't get duped.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

No, they call people who are clearly anti-American anti-American. When you take a thread about Japan's deteriorating relations with China, for example, and start blaming it on the US invasion of Iraq -- that's just plain silly, to put it nicely. And I'm not even American!

Stop this crap. I don't speak about American invasion of Iraq randomly like you are saying. And no, you can't simply let the US out from topic like Japan relations with China, since behind Japan politics there's a strong American influence, this is what you refuse to see. It's not my fault if the US is involved basically in every angle of the planet. You are probably Korean, but your nationality isn't really meaningful anyway. You always defend the US and bash Japan when the latter one is only a puppet state.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Alex80 "Of course, my comment will get tons of thumbs down, it's so predictable"

It's okay. Many Japanese posters here, who defend their independent opinions, always get tons of thumbs down. You are writing for sane individuals, not for mob.

2 ( +10 / -8 )

Abe said he is somewhat nervous about making a speech in English, and is hoping the lawmakers will be kinder than their peers back home

Unlike many other foreign dignitaries, he will speak in English by himself, Ameriican media will love him.

.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

@yamashi:

I'm Italian. I saw how hostile the US became towards Japan when Hatoyama - pro-China - was elected. Since my country shares a very similar situation with yours, I know very well how our countries have not a real independent foreign policy. So, when I speak about our countries' (or any other country "occupied" by the US) foreign policy, is obvious I can't help to involve the US interests in the topic. This is seen by many Americans how "America bashing". I understand the lack of a full sovereignty was the price to pay for losing the war, and I'm sure about the fact our countries losing WWII was the best result. Nazi-fascism was an abberrant ideology. But this doesn't change how wrong is the American way TODAY.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

He's going to make ta speech in English? Oh I can't wait. Bring on the LIVE coverage. These kinds of situations make or break Prime Ministers.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

JWithers: "He's going to make ta speech in English? Oh I can't wait. Bring on the LIVE coverage. These kinds of situations make or break Prime Ministers."

Agreed. I KIND OF give him credit for trying -- after all, he doesn't need to per se -- but the problem is that if asked about his foreign policy and take on history, when his answers are rightfully lambasted in the media and cause anger, he's going to be able to say "My comments were misunderstood" or "mistranslated", etc.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

Nope. He's going to downplay his nationalist views and simply try to sell the US on his push for a stronger military roll for Japan, not mentioning of course that his nation is hugely against it. He's going to appeal to their pocket books and avoid touching on their emotions.

Are you saying that the US government is against a stronger military role of Japan, even though it has been said over and over again that Washington is pushing for it? Also my country's people were hugely against NATO wars in the last past years, but we had to be involved anyway. In particular, Lybia war was completely against Italian economic interests, not only against our moral values. But we were involved anyway also here. We can't say no, simply.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Any leader who says he wants to change the world is deluding himself and those who follow him. Abe is a fool on a mission and when fools go on missions, beware!

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Alex, I agree with some points of your post such as stating that a large swath of Americans are "brainwashed" (though in my opinion it's more as if they're submissive to politics) However, I do not agree that America is the root of all evil; like you do. America acts like its the policeman of the world, which it shouldn't. It creates conflicts where they aren't needed, and start trouble for other nations without even thinking... But I disagree that that's what its intentions are: that would make our government out to be much smarter than it is. Also, your view that China is a paradise is sorely mistaken. As we speak they are "warmongering" by gobbling up as much territory as possible, all while ignoring the pleas of just about every other Asian nation; is that fine? Or maybe the fact that they brutally enslave dissenters and harvest their organs makes you think they're superior to America. Overall I agree with the U.S. Government's stance on Asia. We must keep China in check at the moment and the best way that can happen is through the gradual build up of Japan's military (Sadly).

Side note: I'm not "Anti-Chinese" or "Anti-Communist". I adore the Chinese culture which has survived in Taiwan and believe that the vast majority of Chinese are blameless, like the vast majority of people everywhere. However, I do not agree with how the Chinese Communist Party is governing them, it's not right (And not in the least bit communist).

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Alex80: "Are you saying that the US government is against a stronger military role of Japan, even though it has been said over and over again that Washington is pushing for it?"

NO! I said that Abe will APPEAL to them by playing that up and as such not need to touch on Japanese atrocities and his lack of mention of them, and his changing of the history books. Get it? If he plays up the things that will benefit the US, he'll win them over and lessen the risk of having to discuss issues which will show him and his policies in a negative light.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

America acts like its the policeman of the world, which it shouldn't. It creates conflicts where they aren't needed, and start trouble for other nations without even thinking... But I disagree that that's what its intentions are: that would make our government out to be much smarter than it is.

America tries to defend its interests this way, so yeah, it's in their intentions starting absurd wars everywhere...it's only they are not able to handle the huge mess they did anymore.

Also, your view that China is a paradise is sorely mistaken. As we speak they are "warmongering" by gobbling up as much territory as possible, all while ignoring the pleas of just about every other Asian nation; is that fine? Or maybe the fact that they brutally enslave dissenters and harvest their organs makes you think they're superior to America. Overall I agree with the U.S. Government's stance on Asia. We must keep China in check at the moment and the best way that can happen is through the gradual build up of Japan's military (Sadly).

I don't think China is a paradise at all. Which country is a paradise? But China attitude, today, is the result of American politics in Asia. China is surrounded by American bases everywhere. I think, considering her hystory, it could try a more diplomatic approach with the countries with whom it has some disputes, if in those countries there weren't American bases pointed against China. So, while you think this American presence in Asia is a factor of stability, because you are used to think like that, it is the opposite. The US are not an Asian country. So, why do the US want to be there? The answer is obvious... Plus, how China treats its own people, it's not American business. And this is how your government propaganda works: they make you believe they act to protect human rights all around the world, when they bring death and destruction.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@AADV123: I believe, in my honest opinion, that China aggressive behaviour is a reaction to the fact it is surrounded by American bases everywhere, so the presence of US bases in Asia, isn't a factor of stability, but the opposite. In another situation, China could be more diplomatic with the countries with whom it has some disputes, considering its hystory. The best solution would be for the US leaving Asia, not Japan rearmament, but we know it won't happen.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

when a few or a couple of nations leaders state they want to make they world into the vision they see... that is time to start worrying, Let the people decide that instead of deciding for the people. I know thats wishful thinking. As for European nations like Itsly being forceably locked into hosting US forces, yes this is wuite teue, look at New Zealand which refused US nuclear ships and physically kept them out of NZ waters. The US government sent death threats to the then NZ prime minister david lange and went on a csmpaign to boycott all NZ goods and imposed embargos. Japan is in the same situation I suspect. But I do not agree that korea and vietnam have a history of not being brutal to their populace as they especially korea has a harsh system of conformity with little compromise. protestors are treated harshly and severely. I do think the TPP on the whole will create less options for the people and give even greater control to the larger corporations to dictate ad lib on a global scale.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Alex, okay, I understand that a bit. However your idea does not involve China disarming its gigantic military.. Which Even the combined forces of Asia couldn't stop. In a perfect world the U.S. would completely remove itself from all countries, and those countries would disarm themselves as well.. However the military serves more purpose than just war. They do humanitarian work and other such peaceful actions... Oh well, the world will never be a perfect place..

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I do not think Japan-China relations will improve as long as PM Abe remains PM, despite the short meeting between PM Abe and Chinese pres. Xi at the Asian-African Conference on 19th to 24rd April 2015 in Indonesia.

Forbes magazine, covering the Asian-African Conference, which was attended by over 100 Asian and African nations and international organizations. Forbes reported : "The first day of the two day conference, attended by leaders of most of the important countries in Africa and Asia, featured short speeches by most of leaders. Then, when Abe appeared at the lectern Xi stood up and, in full view of everyone, walked out the room."

http://www.forbes.com/sites/stephenharner/2015/04/23/xi-abe-meeting-in-jakarta-no-thaw-as-abe-travels-to-washington-china-japan-relations-are-worsening

http://blogs.wsj.com/indonesiarealtime/2015/04/25/in-photos-a-walk-to-remember-in-bandung/

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Darn, pressed submit way too early >.< Well I'll prolong the rest of my points so that it's worth the second post :P

However, I don't understand how having military in the asiatic region would create instability.. The U.S. forces create a powerful deterrent against violence. It blocks all aggressive actions by everyone, for better or for worse. I just wish that the UN's peacekeeper force hadn't been "broken" during the Serbian war... Maybe the U.S. would back off and let the UN. handle things like this.

Americanhonor, Japan's government is all for the U.S. forces stationed in Japan; it's the main reason that Taiwan and Japan still exist as sovereign states. I normally would look up the occurrence where the U.S. directly did such a horrific act of blatant terrorism against New Zealand; and I can't help but assume it happened during the Cold War. If so, then New Zealand's location would be critical in any sort of military planning against China or Eastern Russia, and acted with the delusion that ignoring a country's sovereignty like that was ok. I am so very sorry that happened to (I'm assuming) your nation; and I hope you believe me when I say such a thing could never happen again. Mass media would prevent such a thing, at least if it happens to nations like New Zealand, Japan, or Italy.

Sorry, I'm a bit tired so I completely forgot to mention why I'm not looking it up.. It's because my poor wheezing iPad can only handle one tab at a time before it crashes :P

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

However your idea does not involve China disarming its gigantic military..

China built up its gigantic military to be able to face American hostility. Anyway, its military isn't at the level of the US yet. Try to imagine if your country, the US, was surrounded by Chinese bases...

In a perfect world the U.S. would completely remove itself from all countries, and those countries would disarm themselves as well..

Basically this, but we know it's utopic. I'm happy to discuss with an American guy like you. :) Maybe in the future, when China will be the main super-power (and I guess it will happen), it could start to act even worse than the US, we can't know it will be better for sure, of course.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

The U.S. forces create a powerful deterrent against violence. It blocks all aggressive actions by everyone, for better or for worse.

I really disagree with you, but I can respect your opinion. At least, you are able to listen to my own opinion, without calling me "Anti-American". I appreciate it. :)

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Ahaha, actually China's military is (numerically) more powerful than the US's. The difference is in military technology, training, equipment and so on.. I fully think that if China wanted (and no other countries intervened, which would never happen) China could defeat the large amount of American forces stationed in Japan and around Asia... Historically the army with the greater numbers wins.. Even if technology is against them. And yes, any country that becomes a "lone superpower" abuses its position highly. However it's better than if there are multiple superpowers... I'd be interested to see how China develops as a nation, and I can only hope that down the line their government slowly continues its trend of "normalizing" and moving away from its brutal path. All this, however, requires extensive diplomacy... Which just doesn't exist during this time of great uncertainty. It seems the very fabric of peace is once again being stretched by Russia and the U.S; and with current actions of both sides... I'd say that we're quickly heading for another Cold War.

Yomiko, you're completely right. Abe is too much of a nationalist and Xi Jinping knows it all too well... Japan needs to trend towards a more "liberal" government in order to have any hope of a peaceful Asia. The current conservative/nationalist trend just furthers the fanning of the flames of war.

(Not being inflammatory towards conservatives; their beliefs are very firm toward taking aggressive action at the drop a hat. That is not what Japan or any other nation needs at the moment)

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Japan needs to trend towards a more "liberal" government in order to have any hope of a peaceful Asia. The current conservative/nationalist trend just furthers the fanning of the flames of war.

Completely agree, but you know, when Hatoyama, a very pro-Chinese premier, was elected, the US started to be very hostile towards Japan. This is why I say countries like mine or Japan have not a real independent foreign policy. it's a complicated situation. :/

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Alex80: Tons of Americans are really completely brainwashed...Many of them think it's perfectly normal to fight terrorism by war, invading every country they like...They call "collateral effect" the thousands of innocent people killed by their drones in their crazy wars. ...

Please do your homework before you rant on about 'Tons of Americans' being brainwashed. We do not accept war as normal, in fact we abhor the idea of sending air and ground troops to a foreign land because one President made a claim about WMD's. These same American war Veterans, the ones who make it home, do so with physical and psychological disabilities and must rely on inadequate services to bring them back to a 'normal' life.

Believe me, a majority of Americans want our government to keep our tax dollars on U.S. soil. We have enough problems to deal with and we do not want to babysit the world.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Abe probably thinks he's some great statesmen. But the reality is 70% of Americans don't even know who he is.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Alex, after briefly looking up Hitoyama is doesn't look like tensions with the U.S. we're "hostile" at all.. They just feigned ignorance and unnerved him by remaining silent on his impending decision on US bases in Okinawa. That action in itself is very unprofessional, but it seems like it was less the U.S. which was hostile to him and more the Conservative party; which uncovered his illegal money collection (Most politicians do, he however did the honorable thing and resigned... If only he hadn't.)

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The past is in the past. We should move on and embrace the future -- all of us, China, South Korea, America, and Japan. Humanity will never progress if it refuses to forgive.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Q and A to Abe. He should be able to. When he was young, he was in Long Beach , and he attended a Univ in So. Calif. He stayed with an American family and he was fluent in Calif people's conversation. So he will do OK. But USA media may ignore him. US people know Japan but a majority do not know who is Abe. Also too busy guessing who will be GOP Prime winner.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Believe me, a majority of Americans want our government to keep our tax dollars on U.S. soil. We have enough problems to deal with and we do not want to babysit the world.

Nobody wants you babysitting the world, except for your government. ^^"

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

All great things are achieved through diplomacy.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Back on topic please.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I am glad the US used the atomic bombs to end Japan's war. In fact, it should have used more to make it even longer for certain apologists to rear their ugly heads.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

with ample time for hobnobbing with high-flying businesspeople like the founders of Facebook

Perhaps he'll understand that he doesn't need to pay fees for his Facebook account.

Back on topic, I hope he gets asked many searching questions during his visit

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

It seems that this story is not being covered by US media. It has not been on cable (CNN and CBS) or NHK (ABC news). I wonder if they will cover Abe's speech to congress.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Abe said he is somewhat nervous about making a speech in English,

Like it or not, English is now virtually the lingua franca all over the world. And making a speech in English will definitely play in Abe's favor. But when it comes to speaking through a translator, you may feel almost as if you spoke with an android. Keep up the good work, Prime Minister!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

We should look at Abe Shinzo's trip to America in terms of whether he can achieve a "blue line" of accomplishments in partnership with America without falling below a "red line" of historical revisionism that will upset not only the Koreans, America's allies, and Chinese but also many Americans, too.

First the blue line. Many powerful American interest groups want the TPP with Japan in it because it theoretically can pry open a market that is among the most advanced but which also has an incredible amount of protected sectors -- agriculture and rice especially -- and non-tariff barriers. Many defense and security interests want to end the Japanese "free ride" in which the Japanese are prepared to throw money at conflict areas but not military personnel and other assets despite having one of the strongest navies in the world and a highly capable Air Force (forget this Self-Defense Force terminology). This "free ride" would be replaced by an arrangement by which Japan continues to throw money but also puts boots on the ground and on decks and butts in cockpits. Most immediately this is justified as being aimed at North a Korea but increasingly explicitly this is aimed at China.

And America and Japan do want to acknowledge together that since the end of a World War II 70 years ago, Japan has had the most remarkable record in the world of developing a liberal democracy that has conscientiously pursued peace and prosperity and which has shared a considerable amount of its success with developing nations, including China and Korea incidentally.

Now for the red line. Abe Shinzo is too shrewd to offend America. The notion that he will perform as he did in Indonesia as well as in an earlier trip to Canberra is highly likely. He will invoke a memory that touches on Japanese actions in World War II, carefully evading words like aggression and invasion, and he will speak of his personal heart felt anguish and remorse and a vow that Japan will do all in its power to prevent such wide spread suffering ever again. Because the Congress has passed a resolution calling on Japan to refrain from historical revisionism on war time sexual slavery, Abe will likely use the words "human trafficking" to denounce violence against women that occurred during the 20th century -- without specifically mentioning Japan's major rounder the notion that "everybody was raping women" -- and to call on international efforts to prevent such atrocities in these times. The Chinese and Koreans -- and many American experts -- will recognize such language as the weasel words that they are and denounce Abe's tricky legerdemain. But most Americans who care about the subject will likely give Abe a passing mark, with some even praising Abe for his heart-felt remorse and expressing wonderment as to why Chinese and Koreans despise this visage of banality.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I found from The Korea Herald a good article about the matter, unlike all the garbage I saw in another Korean newspaper. You should read it:

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20150427001193

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

pay respects to Japanese-American war dead at the “Go for Broke” memorial.

This is rather odd to me. Let me say first, I have the upmost respect for the Japanese-Americans that fought for the U.S. despite their families being unjustly imprisoned, but that is because I am an American. Their love of country rose above the their fellow countrymen's ignorance. But I think Abe might only now about the Japanese Americans that fought in Europe. Their story is amazing, but he will also be paying respect to the extremely brave and lesser known Japanese Americans Military Intelligence that intercepted Japanese language messages and infiltrated the front line with their Japanese faces. Having a Japanese face, wearing a U.S. uniform put them as marks for both sides. I respect these men so much, but it seems Abe is picking a strange point into which to show the bond between the U.S. and Japan.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@wipeout

Aha! I have just watched the vids you hyperlinked. I actually knew that was the case. But I may have stretched the story a little bit to spark a discussion. Hahah.

At any rate, thanks for the heads-up!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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