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Xinhua pours cold water on idea of Xi-Abe talks

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highball7

we spent billions protecting your behinds.

It is Japan that pays billions to US, more than 4 billions a year.

you're not buying American

Japan is US's 4th largest exporting country and 4th importing country.

Don't ever forget that your export dies if we didn't have our QEs.

Why is that?

you have no leverage against us.

Japan's QE is simply for Japan's deflation, not for US. Then how do you suppose Japan recover from its deflation?

you cannot sustain at the 113-115 v dollar range too long.

Why not. It is where Japan came through.

That leaves you with China. What part don't you understand that is the ONLY market that can save Japan?

Say that to China, who 's been bullying and refusing Japan.

Japan is the odd man out. Its really not rocket science.

What is your point?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

For the peeps who don't know what QE is, its currency manipulation. Yes. US does it and yes Japan does it. NO one is saying that you shouldn't be manipulating currency. I'm saying you can only manipulate it if the greater environment allows you to. I think most of you peeps have a difficult understanding of how QE is formed. Its always the last straw. The US can sustain QE forever is because everyone depends on the dollar to trade as of this moment. And the debt we carry is also a leverage against the holders to serve as a political leverage instead of an economic one at this point. And how US puts Japan into a quandrum is relevant. US gave Japan a gateway into our domestic market for decades with almost unlimited restrictions. And we spent billions protecting your behinds. Don't ever forget that your export dies if we didn't have our QEs. The difference between your QE is that you're not buying American. And therefore you have no leverage against us. And now our republican controlled Senate and Congress can do it put a tiny little squeeze and your QE fizzles. Its a matter of who's in charge at this point since Oduma is lame duck.

US debt and QEs are completely different than Japan. Don't confuse the two.

For the ones who think Japan's stock market and economy will be stronger this time next year, I will DEFINITELY be betting against you and I will take that bet. If I win, just put a couple hundreds donation to UNICEF. If I lose, I will do the same. I'm saving this link and screen shot for next year this time to come.

Inflation has always been a problem for Japan and that's not the reason for QE. Its the the dump you guys took when China began to stop dealing with you that all your companies took a dive in export. Which the only way left for your saturated market is to dump the yen and artificially manipulate the currency market to gain leverage against the dollar, yuan, and won.

This is PURELY a temporary fix because you cannot sustain at the 113-115 v dollar range too long. This is only good for the temporary as the strong dollar is also temporary. No one in our sane mind will tolerate oil prices to continue to take a dump to the possibly 70s level. Eventually, oil prices will recuperate, dollar will weaken, as the yen is somewhat peg to the dollar, yen will rise.

2 quarters at most. Then what? Japan needs market. The only market with its population and consumers big enough to make a difference for Japan is China and India. India is filled with intrinsic problems that will take several more decades to resolve. That leaves you with China. What part don't you understand that is the ONLY market that can save Japan? Why do think Abe has been maniacal about mending relations with China? You think Japan can continue to survive with China having a bullseye target on you? What in the world are you people thinking that most Japanese businesses don't care about China? Almost ALL of your precisions and heavy industries are predominantly dependent on China. Your big 5 financials are all hedging on being open into China's financial sector. I would know.

If you don't know what you're talking about, why are you stating them as a matter of fact instead of just an opinion?

If you don't understand all you see is the past 3 quarters is a mirage or the tempest before the storm. You have some serious blindfolds in front of you. This APEC meeting is a make or die for Japan. That's why there is so much work behind the scene to try to get something done. Because everyone knows Oduma is done and the next Pres is US is gonna be a republican as Hilary couldn't save any candidates in this election. Its not a guarantee but damn close to it. The political climate has changed. If you looked back the past decades, its really the Republicans who pushed hard for integration with China. Pay attention. Clinton comprised with congress to pave wave for China into WTO. He didn't want to but Newt put up on the spot. Bush before opened to China if not for 1989 massacre. Bush jr. did the same thing. Whoever's next is only going to solidify further because both sides have symbiotic needs from each other.

Japan is the odd man out. Its really not rocket science.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

ReformBasher, The leader of South Korea that recovers Daemado (Tsushima) will be a national hero. All they have to do is put enough troops on the island and hold it. At the same time all the People Republic of China needs to do is land troops on Senkakus and hold them. The gamble would be the US will do nothing and Japan will give in to the loss of these islands. They did nothing when Turkey invaded Greece and they did nothing when Russia invaded the Ukraine.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I learned long ago not to believe everything the Chinese media says.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

CH3CHO, “China invaded Tibet, Uyghur, Inner Mongolia, and bullied the people there. China invaded Soviet Union, India and Vietnam and started boarder disputes. China took islands from the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia. You should learn the true history.”

I told you to carefully reviewing the backgrounds. Don’t take thing as it appears to be. Again, throughout history China has been provoked and bullied.

“But People in Tibet, Uyghur, Inner Mongolia and so on want democracy, equity, and fairness. They should be freed if China and Han Chinese deny basic human rights. Only Han Chinese should stay in perpetual misery if they want.”

Have you been to those places? Study the history of those places and you will find that their livelihoods have improved substantially. There will always be some bad apples; you should look at the majority of the people. If not, look at the black, native and Mexican in the US, shouldn’t you say the white “should stay in perpetual misery if they want”. One time I was so scared to death walking in downtown LA.

“Oh, really. The per capita GDP of China is about 7000 dollars, ranked 83rd in the world, which is way below poverty level.”

A dollar in China is worth a lot more in the US. Ever heard of “Purchasing Power Parity”. Things are cheaper in China. If they are still poor, how can they travel outside the country and spend a lot more than any other foreign tourists? You shouldn’t try to use averages on China because of the size of its population.

“No serious Japanese businessman takes China as an export market any more.”

That’s because they can’t compete in China any more. Chinese auto market is expanding 8% a year, while Japanese autos are in decline. Why is that? Maybe we should measure their intelligence. The rest of the world is going to China if you read the news. I heard China is the largest economy in the world based on PPP and India will be the third. Where is Japan gonna be?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

You are blinded by the right.

Couldn't have put it better

0 ( +1 / -1 )

What does that have to do with your claim that Japanese businessmen don't take China seriously as an export market?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

StrangerlandNov. 07, 2014 - 11:07AM JST

Why do not we look at numbers? http://online.wsj.com/articles/china-foreign-direct-investment-at-four-year-low-1410846696

Foreign direct investment into China is declining rapidly because business leaders see no bright future in Chinese market.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

No serious Japanese businessman takes China as an export market any more.

Other than every major corporation that exists in Japan.

You are blinded by the right.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Carefully reviewing the backgrounds of each dispute you will find that China has been provoked and bullied.

China invaded Tibet, Uyghur, Inner Mongolia, and bullied the people there. China invaded Soviet Union, India and Vietnam and started boarder disputes. China took islands from the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia. You should learn the true history.

"They have no experience of democracy, equity or fairness," you may be right. But that is what China wants it, to be in the middle and avoid two extremes, and as long as people there are happy there is nothing wrong with that.

But People in Tibet, Uyghur, Inner Mongolia and so on want democracy, equity, and fairness. They should be freed if China and Han Chinese deny basic human rights. Only Han Chinese should stay in perpetual misery if they want.

Remember that China now has the highest number of middle class people in the world

Oh, really. The per capita GDP of China is about 7000 dollars, ranked 83rd in the world, which is way below poverty level.

Miscalculation on the sluggish exports particularly to China and high energy costs because of US controls has taken a big blow on the economy. The only way for Japan to meet its Abenomic targets is to be nice to China and S Korea.

No serious Japanese businessman takes China as an export market any more.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

CH3CHO, you still don’t see the point here. There is definitely a skeleton in the closet that is why Japan is defending itself against two major economies in the region. Too much politics is in the making, Abe was using the territorial disputes to bolster his popularity so he could stay in power. He was hoping that by lowering the Yens the export would increase in turns big corporations would make tons of money and raise wages so that consumption would increase. Miscalculation on the sluggish exports particularly to China and high energy costs because of US controls has taken a big blow on the economy. The only way for Japan to meet its Abenomic targets is to be nice to China and S Korea. You may notice there is no more China bashing any more recently. You know why?

Against the popular view that China is using the territorial dispute with Japan as a propaganda tool is way off the mark. According Pew Research only about 40% of the Chinese people polled had unfavourable view of Japan, you must have expected a much higher percentage but that is not the case here. But the poll result showed that over 90% of Japanese had unfavourable view of China, so you can see that China bashing propaganda is working very well in Japan.

“They have no experience of democracy, equity or fairness,” you may be right. But that is what China wants it, to be in the middle and avoid two extremes, and as long as people there are happy there is nothing wrong with that. Look at the astonishing number of Chinese people travelling the world, now tell me what else do you expect. Remember that China now has the highest number of middle class people in the world and it took only a few decades. Think in a few more decades what would China be?

About “gun boat diplomacy” is it fair to blame China when China didn’t start the disputes at all? Carefully reviewing the backgrounds of each dispute you will find that China has been provoked and bullied. China has no choice but to respond. Think about other territorial disputes that had been peacefully resolved which China had given up a lot just for peace. In contrast, imagine if China was acting like Russia, would you then find any “equity or fairness” at all?

Now, where did you get the terms "two big nation relationship"? I think you mean a “new type of great power relations,” quite a big difference from what you have in mind. This is an unprecedented attempt to break out of the framework of conventional theories and stereotypes in world politics. China doesn’t want to see the world dominated by a superpower because this is a multi-polar world where win-win cooperation should be the norm. I don’t see any wrong with that. But as people say, US can’t exist without war so it may be hard for you to understand.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

China must extend civility to Japan as host and guest. However, China need not extend any extra privileges to Japan. APEC meetings have been carried out many times. But the host country has never accord the same level of privileges to all guests. If Japan wants extra, she has to prove that she is worth it. Even before Abe arrives in Beijing,there are people who said that he would be killed by the pollution or the food! It is best he just send a representative.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@YuriOtani

Hopefully we will never know, but I'd bet money that the US will not sit back and let either the Senkakus or Tsushima (Seriously? That would be very unwise) be invaded.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Abe needs to protect Japan from Peoples Republic of China and Republic of Korea. The time for talking is over and begging makes Japan out to be weak. The time has come to prepare for a war in which both will attack Japan. In case people forget Greece and Turkey both NATO members fought each other. It can happen again and this time Peoples Republic of China will help itself to Senkaku and Republic of Korea to Tsushima. Honest Abe is carrying water for the Americans who will do nothing to defend Japan. He thinks his stupid talk and shrine visits make he appear strong but they show him to be weak.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

flowersNov. 06, 2014 - 02:29AM JST

Only the weak will whine, you don’t see Xi asking for a meeting with Abe in public. And, there is not just one but two major economies, China and S Korea, that are upset with Japan. Don’t you find that strange? Japan is getting weaker and weaker by the day.

This comment just wraps up the problems of Chinese and Koreans. They live in a world where the strong takes everything from the weak, and they do not see anything wrong with that. They have no experience of democracy, equity or fairness. That is why they do gun boat diplomacy to their sea neighbors and boarder disputes with land neighbors.

China is asking "two big nation relationships" with the US. I think the Americans are puzzled with the meaning of "two big nation relationship". Actually, it means that China is a big nation, so it can take everything from small nations around it and that America should acknowledge the big nation right of China.

The problem indeed is that China sees nothing wrong with their thinking.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

nigelboyNov. 06, 2014 - 08:43AM JST Nope. That's the 'result'.

How can you have increase in domestic consumption when utilities prices are increased over 9 percent and food prices over 4 percent in the past 12 months? Also with increase in sales tax, Japanese consumers have less money.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Nope. Lack of wage increase.

Nope. That's the 'result'.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

nigelboy Nov. 06, 2014 - 01:21AM JST Nope. The lack of domestic consumption has been the cause of the deflationary spiral.

Nope. Lack of wage increase.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

A guy being Rude and condescending to you than turning around wanting to be friends? How would you react to this kind of behavior?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

scipantheist, apparently your level of English education is not up to par that’s why you don’t see my sarcastic expression. What is the meaning when you are “in hot water”? That is the situation Abe is in right now. I admit that I have a pro-China view, not that I am being paid to express my view but I just can’t stand seeing China being bullied. China has been responding to the problems that others created. China has never been an initiator to any disputes. So, don’t look at things only on the surface, there are two sides to every story. Look at Abe, he has been asking to have a meeting with Xi since Abenomics showed signs of getting nowhere. Only the weak will whine, you don’t see Xi asking for a meeting with Abe in public. And, there is not just one but two major economies, China and S Korea, that are upset with Japan. Don’t you find that strange? Japan is getting weaker and weaker by the day. You don’t see Japan started something that will benefit the region or the world recently, do you? You must have heard about Silk Roads Initiative, Infrastructure Bank, and Regional Free Trade that China is involved in. Tell me what has Japan been doing instead of killing more whales?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

So Japan is manipulating the yen for its own export gain. I wonder if this is a short term or long term strategy. Let's see how much longer Japan can sustain this currency manipulation without backlash. I give it 2 more quarters, possibly even 1. Let's see what February 2015 holds.

No. Bank of Japan has initiated a massive QE to combat the deflationary spiral which was long overdue. The decline in yen is merely a secondary result. Their is no 'currency manipulation' for not a single member within the G7 mentioned it so during the last meeting.

Cheap yen is great for Japan, I've been advocating that but it also means Abenomics has completely failed. If it wasn't a move on hedging your retirement funds which was similar to what Bush has done, your market would've tanked. That puts tremendous risk on something you people can't afford, messing with your savings. Imagine 2008 all over again and 1/3 of all your savings gone. That's the potential and very realistic risks your lovely PM put you in. Considering how the market has performed in Japan and how this currency manipulation is a short-term fix with US carrying a very short leash, come back to me next year at this time and tell me how you feel.

The yen simply is moving toward the 2007 levels. You overestimate the so called "power" of U.S. with the current lame duck Prez.

Japan's problem is a fundamental one. All these patches is only temporary. You are a consumer market functioning like a domestic mercantilism that focus on savings. Its a social and economic problem.

Nope. The lack of domestic consumption has been the cause of the deflationary spiral.

If China decides to weaken the Yuan, you guys are totally done. Or when the Republican take over the senate, you guys are done. No one within our party will tolerate such currency manipulation, friends or foes.

What does "yuan" have to do with it? If the "Republicans" that took over as a result of the recent election starts accusing of currency manipulation, they are dumber than the Dems they replaced for Japan is merely doing what U.S. did after the financial crisis.

Actions need to back up the words being spoken. Japan saying they want a meeting, while continuing the same actions that have been antagonizing the Chinese is saying one thing and doing another. They need to align their actions with their words if they are sincere.

My god SL. Replace Japan/China with a person's name and it sounds like an advice from a marriage counselor.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Park does not want to "formally meet" PM Abe. Since China cooperates with S Korea in dealing with Japan, it will not undercut S Korea.

Even Obama shuns Abe. Do you think the US is collaborating with China or S Korea too against Japan?

Do they think Abe wants to meet Xi just for the "honor" of meeting Xi? Does not it occur to them that Abe actually does not want to meet Xi but keeps saying the door is open, just for diplomatic curtsy?

"Saying yes to mean no" is not diplomatic courtesy but just Japanese courtesy because only Japanese do that. And you wonder why the Chinese and Koreans have kept saying Abe is not sincere?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Japan has its biggest trade deficits in its history in its last 2 years. Its balance of international payments and credits, called "current account", has shrunk to a negative deficit or a tiny surplus, instead of a big surplus in the past.

The 2 biggest debtors in the world by the size of the debt, the USA and Japan, owe US$17000 billion and US$10500 billion. Their debts are growing BIGGER, not smaller. This is a good example of "The blind leading the blind". The USA has decided to stop its "quantitative easing" which helps to keep the interest rates on its loans from foreigners "low", while Japan is coming out with a bigger one.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

highball7

As if your country hadn't been doing any currency manipulation for a long time, as if hadn't been bullying Japan with other nations. Why do you think Japan's currency kept rising from 360 yen to 80 yen/$?

This Japan's QE is not a currency manipulation, but a desperate effort to stop deflation which has plagued Japan for decades.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

come back to me next year at this time and tell me how you feel.

I'll feel rich. Thanks for your concern.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

So Japan is manipulating the yen for its own export gain. I wonder if this is a short term or long term strategy. Let's see how much longer Japan can sustain this currency manipulation without backlash. I give it 2 more quarters, possibly even 1. Let's see what February 2015 holds.

Cheap yen is great for Japan, I've been advocating that but it also means Abenomics has completely failed. If it wasn't a move on hedging your retirement funds which was similar to what Bush has done, your market would've tanked. That puts tremendous risk on something you people can't afford, messing with your savings. Imagine 2008 all over again and 1/3 of all your savings gone. That's the potential and very realistic risks your lovely PM put you in. Considering how the market has performed in Japan and how this currency manipulation is a short-term fix with US carrying a very short leash, come back to me next year at this time and tell me how you feel.

Japan's problem is a fundamental one. All these patches is only temporary. You are a consumer market functioning like a domestic mercantilism that focus on savings. Its a social and economic problem.

If China decides to weaken the Yuan, you guys are totally done. Or when the Republican take over the senate, you guys are done. No one within our party will tolerate such currency manipulation, friends or foes.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Abe has done absolutely nothing to set the necessary atmosphere for talks to proceed. If he reined in his urge to visit Yasukuni, and forbade his minions from visiting, then we might see an ideal atmosphere for talks to go ahead

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Well it's a matter of time before PRC caves in since they have a ticking timebomb called the economic bubble that is going to burst any moment. You can see all the tell tall signs where the government can't even cover it up announcing weak economic figures after figures even when they fudget it. SK's economy is also going down the drain with Japan's export market booming apprciating the weak yen. Hyundai is already showing a white flag and Samsung is close to follow with it's profit plummeting like a brick in water.

Both commrade Xi and madam Pak is wanting to discuss with Japan about new economic stimulus accross the border but both are too proud to make a plea to a nation that they had been bad mouthing for so long.

Now I believe it's a race for who can swollow their pride faster to ask Abe for help. The problem is will Abe accept?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

They need to align their actions with their words if they are sincere.

They need to stand up to China, not bend over.

What China needs to do is become civilized. Sometime this century would be nice.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

the best ways of extending good faith and creating the proper atmosphere for talks would be saying you want to have talks, which is exactly what Japan has been saying.

Actions need to back up the words being spoken. Japan saying they want a meeting, while continuing the same actions that have been antagonizing the Chinese is saying one thing and doing another. They need to align their actions with their words if they are sincere.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

As per Abe’s wish to mend the strained ties with Xi, it will be quite difficult at this point since Abe’s overall positions have been weakened a great deal both domestically and internationally, Xi might choose to a take wait-and-see approach for the time being before investing any political capitals on Abe.

Abe really doesn't. He enjoys the status quo of getting what he wants in regards to proposals and budget on National defense while China's recent beg for mercy in "stop scrambling our planes, wahhhh!". If Xi refuses to meet, more power to him for he just proved that China is so backwards that they can't be gracious host to an international forum.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Abe keeps saying the door to dialogue is open for China. It is upto China.

Actually, Japan has almost nothing to gain by talking with China. The Senkakus are under Japanese control. Chinese ships are invading the sea areas near the Senkakus almost everyday. Thanks to China, Japan is stacking proofs over proofs of illegal acts by China everyday. China should know that they cannot get legal tilte by openly stealing and recording the theft as their proof of title.

This is not limited to the Senkakus. China goes everywhere in the world and proclaims "this is mine because I stole it, and here is the proof of my stealing." How silly. Just look at Tibet, Uyghur, Inner Mongolia, the South China Sea, Kashmir and so on and anyone can notice they are under Chinese occupation because they were stolen by China.

Another thing that I cannot understand Chinese is why they think Abe says he wants to meet Xi, when Xi cannot offer anything. Do they think Abe wants to meet Xi just for the "honor" of meeting Xi? Does not it occur to them that Abe actually does not want to meet Xi but keeps saying the door is open, just for diplomatic curtsy? I think China has become so egocentric that it cannot see from different view points.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Let’s not jump to the conclusion too fast. As they say “it’s not over until it’s over.”

I still think there will be some format of “meeting” between Abe and Xi during the APEC, yet not necessarily as a summit. However, if it happens that way, then it’s still save faces for both sides to an extent.

As per Abe’s wish to mend the strained ties with Xi, it will be quite difficult at this point since Abe’s overall positions have been weakened a great deal both domestically and internationally, Xi might choose to a take wait-and-see approach for the time being before investing any political capitals on Abe.

Nevertheless, looking on the bright side, Abe will have a chance to meet his first-name based pal, Putin, at the sideline, so he won’t be empty handed in Beijing next week

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

@flowers "Throwing cold water" on something is an idiomatic expression in English. Please tell your 50-cent trainers they have to do better in their English language education.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Why would it be “cold water,” it’s definitely “hot water”. Abe should be squirming in agony for creating such a mess just for a short-term political gain. Wrongly thinking that “stab and pat” tactic would work. Abe will keep a smiling face at the APEC meeting for a photo op with Xi then his people at home will be cheering for such a monumental brief handshake success.

-3 ( +3 / -5 )

He could have removed the names of the "convicted" war criminals from the Yasukuni Shrine permanently, but he has not.

It's a private entity. No lawmaker or heads of states have such power to do such a thing. You must think Japan is a totalitarian state like the counterparts.

Or designate a national cemetery.

In Japan, cemetarys (Ohaka) are usually buried/housed within the family stone that extends for generations. What you are essentially asking is for the ashes/remains to be removed from such places to another location just to satisfy the whining counterparts.

He could have offered to shelve the island dispute as in the past, but he has not.

He went better. He stated that their is no dispute.

He could have publicly announced there will be NO REVISIONS to past apologies on comfort women, atrocities, etc, but he has not.

He did.

The Chinese government believes PM Abe is NOT sincere about settling the disputes

Nope. The Chinese government believes that they need to continue this whining. That is the problem.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

There will be NO "formal" meeting or discussion between Chinese Pres. Xi and Japanese PM Abe because : (1) S Korea's Pres. Park does not want to "formally meet" PM Abe. Since China cooperates with S Korea in dealing with Japan, it will not undercut S Korea. (2) Japan's economy is getting WORSE. Its trade deficits remain high. PM Abe's popularity is dropping. China gains by waiting for both to get worse. (3) A "formal" meeting will provide a good "publicity stunt" for PM Abe, but has little to offer in settling the disputes. (4) PM Abe has done little to settle the disputes. He could have removed the names of the "convicted" war criminals from the Yasukuni Shrine permanently, but he has not. Or designate a national cemetery. He could have offered to shelve the island dispute as in the past, but he has not. He could have publicly announced there will be NO REVISIONS to past apologies on comfort women, atrocities, etc, but he has not. The Chinese government believes PM Abe is NOT sincere about settling the disputes. That is the problem.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

which demands Abe extend good faith and take real action to create the proper atmosphere.”

While I think Abe has favored making gestures -- like his statemenst on the comfort women, and sending donations to Yasukuni -- to appeal to his right-wing support base, at the obvious cost of endearing himself to China, I also think the Chinese leadership keeps moving the goal posts, and nothing short of Abe prostrating himself in Tiananmen Square, and begging for China's forgiveness will ever be enough. Bashing Japan is too valuable a domestic policy card for them to ever give it up. This is just and endless ping-pong match.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

The commentary said that though bad ties benefited neither country...

Sadly, bad ties do benefit the Chinese leadership.

It is very obvious that the Chinese government draws on a deliberate strategy of encouraging an "us against them" mentality among its citizens to help divert attention of the potentially rebellious masses from horrendous circumstances at home (pollution, dysfunctional government, labor abuses,etc.).

Granted, Abe unfortunately makes it easy for the Chinese government to draw on this strategy through government-sanctioned visits to Yasukuni and the government's very public denial and whitewashing of Japan's past wrongdoings.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

China really needs it's seat on the security council revoked, as does Russia.

-3 ( +6 / -8 )

China....such a peace loving country.

-3 ( +7 / -9 )

However, that does not necessarily mean Abe’s long-sought formal talks with Xi during APEC would come true, which demands Abe extend good faith and take real action to create the proper atmosphere.

Gee, it has always been my impression that one of the best ways of extending good faith and creating the proper atmosphere for talks would be saying you want to have talks, which is exactly what Japan has been saying.

-1 ( +6 / -6 )

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