politics

Trump sees Abe as ally in push back against China: adviser

29 Comments
By Tim Kelly

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U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s meeting this week with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may mark the start of talks to garner Japan’s support for a push back against China’s growing influence in Asia, a security adviser to Trump said.

This week?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

My personal opinion is that the friction is going to increase between Japan and the US from here on in. Both nations are lurching to the right. I don't think that is a good thing.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

"Trump-Abe axis"

Am I the only one who felt a bit weird about that particular phrasing?

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Nov 17 Thursday. I think Abe will outsmart he new US President. Trump is just some kind of businessman. Abe family and Kish family are both top politician families from Yamaguchi ken

-15 ( +1 / -16 )

Japan has to change the peace constitution to answer Trump's expectations...fight together in need.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

No need to change Constitution. Abe is not going to propose any war and also Trump is not a military man, either.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Clinton was the most hated politician in China. You could hear the sigh of relief in Beijing when she lost. China seems to have looked at Trump as an inexperienced clown whose only interest in China was trade issues. They may well have been wrong.

HanatsukiNov. 12, 2016 - 08:03AM JST "Trump-Abe axis" Am I the only one who felt a bit weird about that particular phrasing?

I thought it was pretty funny sounding.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

“(Abe) has proven to be able to get along with fairly edgy people”

Indeed. He hosts pariahs like a little boy collecting Top Trumps cards.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Did I miss something with all this us election parody? We were attacked by China? Aren't they our friends, neighbors and trading partners?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

@Goodluck:You are right. China is Japan's top trade patter but just like more than 20 years ago, some writers believes China will attack Japan. Mitsubishi is still helping to modernizing China.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Well, if Trump cares about Japan and want to use Japan to push back against China, the first thing to do is to continue through with TPP.

But guess what, the first thing that is dead is TPP.

Then Trump's second favorite thing to say is to ask US's allies to pay more money to secure their own national security and sovereignty.

Third, to balance or trim the deficit, Trump wants more trade partners to buy more US's product or else. Guess who has a surplus against US outside of China and Mexico.

Guess which nation Trump gets to completely bully without any repercussion.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Oh look at the big brain on HIGHBALL! TPP was a great instrument to keep the Pacific from falling by default into China's sphere. If Trump really wanted to "build a wall" against China, TPP was the way to do it.

And the other points about bullying Japan are well taken. There is historical precedent for this kind of bullying of allies. Athens used to do this all the time as it slipped into decadence, putting the burden of its defense on its allies. Let's see what happens. I think getting through the next four years is a pretty important goal for Japan now.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Trump and Abe "TrumP Partnership".

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I am thinking with the little Tao Farmer inside me, you know, that old story of teaching everyone to not jump to conclusions and to "Wait and see" or "We'll see".

Because I'm less worried about Trump and more worried about a Republican controlled House and Senate. They have a long track record of wanting to strike down Roe V Wade and of being global warming deniers. Plus, almost everything deplorable thing Trump has said, Republicans who are still in office have also said, like things about women and minorities.

I'm just saying, let's see what Trump's first 100 Days are and what the first orders he stamps and signs are.

Maybe this could be good for Japan, business, and (gasp) America... and I hate the guy.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

“He has proven to be able to get along with fairly edgy people,

Maybe Abe and Trump can invite Mugabe and Duterte. They're kind of edgy. Or maybe dig up the Shah Of Iran, General Pinochet and Ferdinand Marcos. They were super edgy, real old school Regan-style edgy. Maybe Shinzo and Trump could dress up like Joe Perry and Johnny Depp for added edginess. That would be cool. And edgy.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Nov 17 Thursday. I think Abe will outsmart he new US President. Trump is just some kind of businessman. Abe family and Kish family are both top politician families from Yamaguchi ken

What the hell does that mean? The world now despises politicians. Possibly crow sashimi for lunch?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Mein Trumpf is the long con that we are only realizing now. He is backtracking on Everything. Said Obama is a great man, lets keep Obamacare and see if we can make it better, improve relations with Japan. The man is a super salesman and conned the world.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

@Toshiko Nov 17 Thursday. I think Abe will outsmart he new US President. Trump is just some kind of businessman. Abe family and Kish family are both top politician families from Yamaguchi ken

DONT UNDER ESTIMATE THE BUSINESSMAN THE BUSH @CLINTON families were no match. Yamaguchi ken is like a little league team in comparison!!!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Japan has no reason to confront Trump or US. Japan still can stay a good ally but, regardless who is the president, Japan should be more independent , armed with nukes, build up much bigger SDF. Try not to miss this tide which none can change.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Mein Trumpf is the long con that we are only realizing now. He is backtracking on Everything. Said Obama is a great man, lets keep Obamacare and see if we can make it better, improve relations with Japan. The man is a super salesman and conned the world.

My guess is he will continue his con jobbing. Remember the proverb about the fox losing his fur but not . . .

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Back in 1950, General Macarthur failed to push back Chinese peasants army from North Korea. If Trump really wants to push back China from South and East Asia, he should enlist all adult children as Marines of Okinawa for Duty, Country, Honor and Displine.

It is pay back time for Daddy Trump who was heatlthy and able as Ox but avoided Draft irresponsibly. Even worse he is wearing Chinese made hat during his campaign. Time for showing Patriotism from spoiled kids of the land of proud, free and brave.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

lets keep Obamacare and see if we can make it better

He explicitly said in a primary debate that he would keep the pre-existing conditions clause in any replacement.

wearing Chinese made hat during his campaign

They're assembled in the US. Some counterfeits got made in China of course.

I guess this will be how it goes for the next 8 years. It's the liberals time to spew misinformation, huh? I'm just happy to Correct the Record(TM).

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Tpp is a deal the china could come into later. Its dead. Its not even a bargaining chip.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Tpp is a deal the china could come into later. Its dead. Its not even a bargaining chip.

China doesn't even need to enter the TPP when stuff like the RCEP are in talks, a key point being, TPP members can join the RCEP as well. So yes, the TPP is not a bargaining chip.

They're assembled in the US. Some counterfeits got made in China of course.

The clothing that says "Make America Great Again" may or may not be made in the US, but the clothing that says "Trump" are made in China...

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

GoodlucktoyouNov. 12, 2016 - 09:17AM JST Did I miss something with all this us election parody? We were attacked by China? Aren't they our friends, neighbors and >trading partners?

Yes you missed everything for the last 10 years at least. As far back as 2002 PLA generals were openly talking about pushing the US out of East Asia and China becoming the hegemon of the region. Everything they've done since has been in support of that goal. An adversarial position with US allies is part of that scenario. Yes China is a trading partner to the US, Japan, EU and the rest of he world. And their economic rise has resulted in the largest military machine in Asia, and under the control a totalitarian dictatorship. For years China sold the world the "Peaceful Rise" picture which has crumbled in the face of their advances and militarization of the South China Sea. You have a lot of catching up to do.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

OssanAmerica,

I don't agree with what you just said. PLA generals are useless in the grand scheme of things in the PRC. They get replaced like old sweatshirts. Look at the top generals in China for the past 5 years, most of them corrupted, indicted and jailed by the CCP. So I take a grain of salt whenever a PLA general speaks about threats. They do so just like the right wing Japanese or American or any nation's gov't or military branch to get more money and funding for their own branch.

I do believe in China's Peaceful Rise. Because if it wasn't a "Peaceful Rise", the Philippines and Vietnam would not be even talking right now. China could easily run over those 2 nations economically and supplant pro-China politicians without lifting a finger. Look at the top 3 leaders in Vietnam right now, all pro-China.

That's what a "Peaceful Rise" look like, soft power influence. All these island building, soft power. The antithesis would be the PLA sending a naval blockade on all those pre-occupied islands claimed by anyone otherwise. Including the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. Think about this, what can Japan do if China decided to occupied the Senkakus? And think about this in the most realistic and practical ways.

What China is doing is much like what Japan has been doing as well. So if China's rise is not a peaceful one, then Japan's struggle is not a peaceful one either. Buying friends and building and claiming things are the more civil option than a military one.

And even with China's spending on the military, Japan still holds a technical advantage over China. Which says a lot about the money being pumped into the SDF or the peripherals that support the SDF. A lot of the Japanese appropriation funds about scientific research are extremely militaristic. That's why it was estimated that Japan can create nuclear weapons anytime it wants. Meaning Japan has all the infrastructure ready at the order of its PM.

So "Peaceful Rise" can only happen when its backed by a powerful military. Don't take the carrot, watch out for the stick. Its a US policy, China policy and Japan policy. So don't cry foul when someone else is doing a better job at it than Japan has been doing the same, except for the results.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

trump and Abe grab em by the sushi!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

highball7Nov. 13, 2016 - 11:31AM JST OssanAmerica, I don't agree with what you just said.

Of course not. No CCP mouthpiece would.

What China is doing is much like what Japan has been doing as well. So if China's rise is not a peaceful one, then >Japan's struggle is not a peaceful one either. Buying friends and building and claiming things are the more civil option >than a military one.

What x-dash line has Japan declared to justify ownership of vast areas based on a claim of "ours since ancient times"? What islands in disputed locations are they militarizing? What disputed island is constantly being visited by Japanese coast guard and military vessels? Chinas is asserting it's claims through force, or the threat of force, against smaller weaker neighboring Asian nations. The rule of international Law is the only thing that puts such weaker nations on an equal footing with a larger more powerful one. And Chins refuses to recognize, much less comply with the PAC ruling. This is not "Civilized" behavior.

That's why it was estimated that Japan can create nuclear weapons anytime it wants. Meaning Japan has all the >Infrastructure ready at the order of its PM.

Japan has had the capability for many decades now. But they have refrained from becoming a nuclear power. China became one in 1961 and has remained so to this day. What Japan "can obtain" is irrelevant to a country that already has it.

So "Peaceful Rise" can only happen when its backed by a powerful military. Don't take the carrot, watch out for the >stick. Its a US policy, China policy and Japan policy. So don't cry foul when someone else is doing a better job at it than >Japan has been doing the same, except for the results.

If you think that Japan is building a powerful military for the purpose of becoming the major strategic power in Asia as China is, you are grossly mistaken. China and China alone is on it's "rise" asserting itself through a mix of strategic and economic actions and manipulations to ensure that the totalitarian CCP dictatorship becomes the hegemon of Asia.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I hope Trump will do smarter than he said in his election campaign... well...that Japan should pay more for upkeeping of the US forces on Japanese soil. And that Trump-Abe axis would be madness just! Matter of fact, Japan can't resolve its numerous territorial disputes with number of countries (South Korea, Russia, China) due to American military presence seen as a threat by neighboring countries. Japan urges South Korea to return some disputed islands and it also wants to get back southern Kuril islands, now in the Russia's possession (Shikotan, Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Habomai). There are also some territorial disputes with China. Well, Japan needs more lands of course but none of the parties seems to be ready even to sell them for huge sums of money. Why? Everybody knows this would mean to give those islands to the USA for more military American facilities built there threatening security of the regional countries. The problem is that Japan is actually an AMERICAN COLONY! That is. I guess Abe should think over how to earn more money and weaken dependence on the USA. It's really worth considering the ideas of foreign leaders offerring some mutually beneficial, profitable for Japan, cooperation instead of endless confrontation over the disputed lands.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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