Suga, Biden agree to strengthen Japan-U.S. alliance in phone talks

If Trump miraculously comes back into power, Suga will find himself severely crushed by Trump. The Republicans secure the key state legislatures, Federal Senate and Supreme Court. They can pack a coup if Trump fires the nuclear option.

It appears that Suga doesn't learn much from Abe's pragmatism and neutral politics. Meanwhile, he does learned the hasty, impatient dealing from Abe - the former PM quickly jumped to sell out Japan for Trump, yet the American tariffs remain and Trump still did forced Japan paying more for military hosting. Additionally, the former PM jumped a deal with Russia that Japan was willing to accept two islands in the North instead of all 4 islands; thus, it left a severe geopolitical legacy for future Japanese diplomats.

Not much of substance I could glean from the article amongst all those words...

This is why I personally admire Vietnam's diplomacy as well as Taiwan's. Both of them are insignificant nations, yet they packed heavy successes from diplomacy during Covid-19.

The US threatened to probe Vietnam on currency manipulation - Vietnam brought coals and various goods from the US quickly, the USTR stops the threat.

Taiwan was under threat of being forgotten - Taiwan manufactured and sent their face masks to the West, and utilized meme warfare to stay relevant.

Meanwhile, Japanese diplomats still can't convince Trump to turn over his trade war against Japan. They can't even persuade China from constantly bullying them in Senkaku waters.

Japan is weak

No sh!t.

Was it too early for Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to have a telephone conference with President-elect Joe Biden?

President Donald Trump doesn't seem to think he is a lame duck president. He sacked Defense Secretary Mark Esper two days ago as if his tenure would last longer.  It's said Esper didn't follow Trump's order to use the active military to clamp down protesters in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Several high ranking officials in the Pentagon are said to have resigned also after Esper’s resignation.

We may see real brouhaha in U.S. politics in February next year when a cabinet transition takes place.

Fourice: It is not yet official that Biden won as the legal president. Still Trump has two months in the office, why is Japan already talking with Biden?

Then Japanese PM Abe met with then President-elect Trump in New York in November 2016. So it would seem this is not so unusual?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37946613

Suga, Biden agree to strengthen Japan-U.S. alliance in phone talks

Exciting stuff from those mandarins at the Ministry of the Predictable.

If the tables are turned around and if Trump won through vote recount

I'll eat my hats. All of them.

Suga, Biden agree to strengthen Japan-U.S. alliance in phone talks

How? Isn't it already?

Exciting stuff from those mandarins at the Ministry of the Predictable.

tell me about it.

Legal or "illegal", one factor that confirms the legitimacy of leadership in one country is the acknowledgement of it by foreign heads of states. Biden has already received confirmation calls from several heads of states, U.K., France, Germany, Japan and several others. 

I wonder what the incumbent President Donald Trump would do about it. Will he resist to evacuate The White House to the last, nonetheless?

Suga and Biden’s pledge to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance, however, means U.S. military bases in Okinawa will be further strengthened and the U.S. military presence will continue way longer or maybe forever, contrary to our wish.

It’s reported that Biden will stick to preceding governments’ policy of relocating Futenma to Henoko.

If the tables are turned around and if Trump won through vote recount, it will be an embarrassment to Suga.

I am sure Japan is able to decide on its own who the projected winner is and what remains a formality. This is the Land of Nemawashi - done deals waiting to be official.

Not much of substance I could glean from the article amongst all those words...

It is not yet official that Biden won as the legal president. Still Trump has two months in the office, why is Japan already talking with Biden? If the tables are turned around and if Trump won through vote recount, it will be an embarrassment to Suga.