Trump, Suga discuss 'free and open Indo-Pacific'

The Indo-Pacific? If that's a thing then Europe should be called the Ruso-Iberian peninsula.

TPP was the ultimate counter to China's One Belt One Road, but Trump ego got in the way.

The only "free and open trade" that is amenable to Trump is one that puts money in his pockets!

I think this is just lip service as no framework for trade in the area has been discussed and written about not in the same terms as BOR.

Me thinks nothing will come of it.

Why?

The election is close and this is no time for long term strategies

Trump will probably forget what was talked about

Hope the Suga government isn't cloistered by the retired Shinzo Abe. When Ishiba, Abe, Suga and Kishida lined up on stage at the LDP’s post-election convention with their hands joined and raised, Suga's right hand was shaking Abe's left hand seemingly rather violently as if asking Abe for mentoring in everything.

After all, Suga has been saying he will follow all the Abe government's policies, internal and foreign, seamlessly.

Can we in Okinawa then look forward to this new government for any favorable solution to the Futenma and other U.S. base issues?

A year ago, when the election was not an issue, Trump wanted to raise the amounts that Japan, South Korea, and Germany pay to help with the cost of American bases on their land from 50% of the cost to over 100% of the cost. If Trump wins this election, official American policy will once again swing to the position of blackmailing our allies to be a part of the alliance to protect democracies, much to the glee of despots like Putin.

Should have called Biden.

and attempts to cut red tape.

Hmmmm. Could you elaborate on that increasingly broad statement please and give us specific examples of said cuts and their benefit on the lives of everyday Japanese citizens. If anyone on JT knows please do enlighten me.

Since he pushed Ghosn into the crocodile pit he is not a very trustworthy person, not to mention Suga is pro-china as well.

OMG average age 70 above.....term limit!!!

Trump is 74 and Suga is 71. Both are old enough. Countries may need younger leaders. Trump would not make it in Nov. Suga is a temporary PM for Abe and he would step down at coming general election. New president and new PM would meet again next year.

He also pledged to continue the work of former leader Shinzo Abe, whose signature "Abenomics" program involved vast government spending and monetary easing, and attempts to cut red tape.

Do Japanese reporters ever question their 'dear' leaders?!!

Trump's policy does not accomplish collaboration required for strong alliance against CCP .

Wait until Biden wins the Presidential election.

I would not count on President Trump, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga building any lasting rapport, outside on the normal political and diplomatic niceties.

President Trump once tweeted, stating Abe san “the greatest Prime Minister in the history of Japan,” …

I sometime get the impression that Suga san is perpetually sucking a lemon, insular, lacking interest in forwarding thinking foreign policy making.  

Abe on the other hand, well see below…

https://twitter.com/JPN_PMO/status/1132507306988466176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1132507306988466176%7Ctwgr%5Eshare_3&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftime.com%2F5888989%2Fyoshihide-suga-japan-new-prime-minister%2F

25 minute call is at least a start, if no more than a out of courtesy, after all it may all be an irrelevance come November.

Then theirs Joe Biden…..

The Biden Nuclear Remark That Got Japan's Attention…….2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSyR76Kxw7Y

“Does he (Trump) not understand we wrote Japan’s Constitution to say that they could not be a nuclear power?”

The connotation, unnecessary insensitivity of such a remark is classic “Bidenism”

 I think Suga san will have his work cut out.

Two honest and trustworthy men - what could possibly go wrong with this collaboration?

So, you'd prefer honest and trustworthy Harris-Biden and what honest and trustworthy Japanese politician would you prefer to discuss a free and open Indo-Pacific?

I would not count on President Trump, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga building any lasting rapport

Who would you count on?

Should have called Biden.

What for? Biden wouldn't know who he is. Calling Harris would be better, as she would be calling the shots anyway.

It is going to be trail and error for Suga san, whatever the result of the November Presidential Election.

One point Abe san built/cultivated a good working relationship with President Trump though their shared love of golf.

Suga told reporters that he informed Trump that the alliance with Washington is the "cornerstone of peace and stability in the region,"

Trump: And we would like Japan to contribute to this peace and stability in the region $$$$$. Show me your sincerity.

Two honest and trustworthy men - what could possibly go wrong with this collaboration?

Your premise is wrong for a start. There is only one honest and trustworthy man in that group of two.

So, you'd prefer honest and trustworthy Harris-Biden

Yes.

gaicuckojinToday  07:20 am JST

I think this is just lip service as no framework for trade in the area has been discussed and written about not in the same terms as BOR.

Me thinks nothing will come of it.

Why?

The election is close and this is no time for long term strategies

Trump will probably forget what was talked about

Trump keeps changing his lies all the time. He won't 'remember' what he said yesterday.

So, you'd prefer honest and trustworthy Harris-Biden

Yes.

So you actually think Harris and Biden are honest and trustworthy. LOL

Let me finish the sentence for JT "China is locked in disputes with neighbors including Japan and Vietnam over islands in the South China Sea which overwhelmingly was ruled that they clearly belong to Japan."

A win for Biden is a huge loss for Japan and especially Taiwan. Wait and see.

So you actually think Harris and Biden are honest and trustworthy.

Compared to Trump, heck yeah.

PM Suga called the right person, calling Biden would have been a wasted call. We all know (well except for the left) that Biden wont win.

TPP was the ultimate counter to China's One Belt One Road, but Trump ego got in the way.

Actually, no. Biden and Obama left a clause in the TPP that would have allowed China to get in the back door avoiding all the hard negotiations at the front end.

"Abenomics" program involved vast government spending and monetary easing, and attempts to cut red tape.

time will tell, but I am not holding my breath

Trump, Suga discuss 'free and open Indo-Pacific'. How? More tension will happen. Japan has more good relation with Asean countries, India and Russia, probably with China, not well with S. Korea. Trump wants Japan to be together but his tongue is venom. Suga, never know puppet.

This means that Trump will make Japan and South Korea into the ATM machines, while Suga and Moon will probably comply.

"Free trade" with the Americans is like Johann Georg Faust deals with the Devil. Last time, the Americans demanded both those nations to open their economies freely, then the citizens of both nations get an economic depression or nigh-collapse.

Trump is not a very compromising person, so he will be straightforward and brutal.

Trump keeps changing his lies all the time. He won't 'remember' what he said yesterday.

If Biden wins then he has no hope whatsoever, it’ll be a nightmare for Suga.

Free trade for who ???. IF Japan anymore than now to america , Japanese farmers and agricultural products and made in Japan will be dead.

The only "free and open trade" that is amenable to Trump is one that puts money in his pockets!

I don't think either were referring to trade but rather were addressing Chinese attempts to control resources and navigation in the South China Sea and in seas closer to Japan. China is trying to enforce their nine dash line as their sovereign territory and the US and Japan see a need to push back.

can Trump even find the Indo-Pacific on a map? I seriously doubt it.

At what point are people (the government of Japan, for example) going to realize that every other thing that comes out of Trump's mouth is a LIE. The man is a proven liar ten thousand times over. Take everything he says with a grain of salt. So, this conversation he had with PM Suga, means less than nothing. He's probably already forgotten about it.