politics

As G-20 splits on key issues, Japan faces delicate balancing act

10 Comments
By Noriyuki Suzuki

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Whether Japan should position itself with the United States and Europe or other countries is a difficult choice

If japan played this right it could potentially become a bridge between the US and Europe therefore achieving both goals at the same time. with Britain's exit fro the EU and an a new trade deal between the UK and the EU taking years to complete, Japan with her upcoming one could well fill the gap that the UK used to offer the US.

Geography would be an issue but the possibility is there.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

f japan played this right it could potentially become a bridge between the US and Europe therefore achieving both goals at the same time.

How? There is no way Japan is going to be a bridge between the EU and US.

Japan keeps it's own interests first and foremost. To play the middle man, means that one has to be willing to negotiate fairly, and that aint Japan.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

"On trade, Japan turned to Europe to make a joint stand against protectionism by securing a broad agreement on free trade ahead of the summit..."

A stand FOR protectionism, more like, so long as it's Japan's vested interests that are protected. Or are Kawakami and others suggesting that Japan is suddenly going to open its agricultural, insurance, and other markets that stalled the TPP for so long it allowed Trump to nix it?

"...sending a clear signal to Trump, who has made clear his preference for bilateral, rather than multilateral deals."

Haha... there are no 'clear' messages to Trump, for starters. The man's brain is pile of mush. Second, Japan would NEVER stand up to the US without turning around a second later, winking, and saying "trust me" in hushed tones while it tried to play both sides. That's what this 'balancing act' means, by the way.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

If japan played this right...

Stop right there.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

The trend is so obvious: Abe's role is diminishing and Japan is going down with him.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

It's 19-1. That's not really a split, is it.

Trump, meanwhile, headed back to the United States and Twitter, where he posted that the G-20 was a "wonderful success."

That's not what veteran Australian reporter Chris Uhlmann thinks:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/09/biggest-threat-to-the-west-australian-journalist-demolishes-trump-after-g20

Abe's role is diminishing and Japan is going down with him.

Abe's sick again and his policies have failed. It's only a matter of time now....

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Japan Germany, Italy and France already tied knots before G 20 . 

G 20 were not interested in N Korean situation.  They wouldn't be mad at Japan if Japan acts against Pyongyang.   

Abe's problem in Japan, that is not concerns of G20.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Gotta love that phrase, "a global leadership vacuum". They're all vacuous, and this confab was a con, at best. Fabuously inane, more like it. Now they all go home and screw their constituents. Nice job, politics - salary, benefits, travel, free food, and the rest of the planet (at least most of it) starves and kills. Lovely world we live in.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

amusing how the article bashes America first when it's the job of every world leader to put their respective country first. if they are not, they should be voted out. Japan has no balancing act, north Korea is a real problem, Paris accords meant to help propagate the global warming financial scam are irrelevant.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

"....as Trump's fixation on an "America First" policy platform sparked talk of a global leadership vacuum"... which in reality means, the United States will no longer play the role as ATM for the rest of the world, which is exactly what it was doing for years.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

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