iworld99 comments

The EU gets it. Imagine if the EU were divided then each of those individual European countries will have much less negotiation power over trade with other countries, like with USA. But together, EU have much stronger negotiation power and can stand up to American trade attacks. Now, imagine if Northeast Asia stood together, South Korea, Japan and China together, they would have much stronger stand and negotiation power on any trade agreements with others. No nation or group of nation will have enough power to force trade agreement on SK+Japan+China when they stand together.

The writing is on the wall for all countries of the world; The American have weaponized trade and will attack and bully any nations;allies or not. Those countries that are united together(like EU) will be able to stand up against Trump's trade attack and protectionism, while other countries that are divided(like South Korea, Japan and China) will have give in and give up certain interests.

United We Stand, Divided We Fall.

Abe/Japan need to quiet down and let other grown up and real nations that matters handle this.

This trade war, China will. win because. Chia buy US products more than it sells its products.

In this trade war, like most trade wars, both party will lose.

Look at EU, united they stand. They stood together and threatened USA that they will retaliate massively like they did in 2002 so the US backed off and gave them exemption.

In North East Asia, South, Japan and China is divided so the USA can do what they like and extracts favors and upper hands from these countries.

Simply, a dog goes wherever its master goes.

Flip-flops and lack of independent foreign policy.

These greedy men needs to stop abusing and perverse the act and meaning of bowing with their insincerity.

Japan's prime minister on Monday called for a boost to the country's defenses in the face of North Korean threats, warning that Tokyo needs to be able to protect itself.

Yes, Japan needs to protect itself whatever best way it can. However, it is reasonable for North Korea to think and do the same.

Abe has zero moral ground in dealing with nuclear proliferation.

Not only that but Abe is also against "No First Use" policy.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/16/national/politics-diplomacy/abe-tells-u-s-japans-concerns-obama-mulled-no-first-use-nuke-policy/

WASHINGTON – Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed concern over the possible nuclear weapons policy of “no first use” being considered by the Obama administration, according to a column in the Monday edition of the Washington Post.

Lets hope Abe is not foolish enough to cause the change of this nuclear bomb into Tokyo A-Bomb.

"When a rogue regime has a nuclear weapon and an ICBM pointed at you, you do not take steps to lower your guard. No one would do that. We certainly won't," the U.S. ambassador said.

"When a rogue regime has a nuclear weapon and an ICBM pointed at you, [and have invaded and destroyed many countries like Iraq, Libya and Syria], you do not take steps to lower your guard. No one would do that. We certainly won't," the NK ambassador said.

North Korea, being part of the so-called Axis of Evil designated by the American, developed this nuclear weapon as its ultimate defensive weapon. As survival is the utmost important objective of the Korean regime and with what it witnessed to Saddam and Iraq, Gaddafi and Syria, and now Syria, it knows it needs to protect itself. And nuclear weapon is the most powerful defensive weapon a country can get these days; the P5 knows it, Israel knows it, Pakistan knows it, India knows it, Ukraine know it now but little bit late.

When North Korea gets a reliable and functional delivery system with nuclear war heads, no countries will invade it; not USA, not EU, and certainly not Japan.

cronyism and nepotism.

Approved? When Japan asked the U.S. to stop they got ignored,so it doesn't look like they had much choice but to "approve."

So essentially, and in reality, "The Japan That [Can't] Say No".

I thought Japan and India is creating a competing alternative to China's OBOR.

http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/race-for-supremacy-india-japan-plan-alternative-to-china-s-obor-117051501273_1.html

What is really happening?

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte sought to assure Japan on Wednesday that his high-profile visit to China last week was about economics, not security,

Duterte not only achieve a lot of investment deals from China but he also announced that his country, like any other normal country, would have its own independent foreign policy. Instead of working under the thumb and control of other country, his country would work and act for its own interest in the world.

and vowed to stand on Tokyo’s side over the disputed South China Sea when the time came.

That doesn't make sense. Would Japan stand on Philippine's side over the disputed Senkuka/Diaoyu Island when the time comes? What Duterte really said(as quoted in other articles) is that Philippines won't abandon Japan and with a common belief that both countries will work peacefully to resolve the South China Sea issue. So, Philippine is not willing to working as pawn of some foreign design(like American's Asia Pivot) to oppose and contain China; as desired by Abe.

Pilippine may become a closer friend for China while he is president.

Philippines can still maintain closer friends to Japan, as long as Japan doesn't twist this relationship to aim at and oppose other country.

Before Duterte started visiting Japan, he have already signed an immense investment deal worth $24 billion dollars with China.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/147486/china-trip-bags-24-b-deals

Is Japan, the self proclaimed friend of Philippines, willing to invest as much, if not more, than that for the development of Philippines?

Jugo de Manzana: days are numbered. Shouldn't be too long before he falls to a coup.

Well, it would be easier if he is the PM of Japan, the USA can just give him a pink slip, like Yukio Hatoyama.

stormcrow: Disputes?! Are you kidding? That would be like the U.S. seizing Vancouver and telling the world that it was ironing things out with Canada, so no worries.

Eh, no. USA and Canada mutually recognizes Vancouver as part of Canada. So, it is not the same as the dispute between China and Philippine.

Also, USA have a Mutual Defense Treaty with Philippines. Would USA do nothing if China have taken what is considered solely belongs to Philippines?

If USA does nothing to defend Philippines sovereign integrity when Philippines have even joined its Asia Pivot to contain China then what else can Philippines do?

If you are the president of Philippines, what would you do that can realistically resolve this peacefully?

wtfjapan: Sorry but I just cant see how this will benefit the Philippines, hes basically given up any sovereignty claims to the >disputed waters and the natural resources it holds,

Xi and Duterte said they will try to resolve the disputes through talks instead of war. In the end, it might lead to Philippine losing some dispute areas. But given the disparity between China and Philippines do you see a peaceful way for Philippines to win in this disputes?

China will only throw its dog scraps.

So far, the scraps is about $13.5 dollars loans and investments. And there will probably more in the future. http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/10/20/1635602/philippines-sign-13.5b-deals-china Soon, Duterte will be visiting Japan. Lets see how much of a 'dog scraps' he will get there.

stormcrow: BTW, I haven't seen the U.S. carving off pieces of the Philippines for itself, but the same can't be said about China.

When there is a land/sea dispute , usually only one side become a winner. However, sometimes people can share. In the case of Scarborough Shoal, we will see if Philippines can convince China to let its fishermen fish there in the future.

Again, Japan claims to be friend of Philippines and wants Philippines to join its design to contain China, then we will have wait and see Japan willing to loan to Philippines for their developments in this friendship.

Now he's saying that he only meant separating but not severing its ties with the U.S. What the hell does that mean?

It means he and his country does want to be part of that American's Asia Pivot that aims to contain China anymore. That he would want to have an independent foreign policy that benefits his country. However, he have no problem working together with the Americans as a fair and equal partner for the benefit of both nations.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans ... contain Beijing’s South China Sea ambitions.

Contain China this, Counter China influence China that.. It is what Japan do.

With Duterte winding up a trip to China where he announced his “separation” from the United States, Abe faces a delicate task to promote the closely aligned security goals of Tokyo and Washington without pushing the Philippine leader deeper into Beijing’s embrace.

Duterte and Xi already declared that they will try resolve their dispute peaceful through talks. So, what is this different goals from Tokyo and Washington?

Japan wants to explain its regional stance,

Which is USA tell Japan what to think and do and Japan obeys.

Duterte’s apparent cosying up to Beijing has both Tokyo and Washington worried that the commitment under former Philippine President Benigno Aquino to stand up to China in the hotly disputed waterway is under threat.

So, Duterte and Xi wants to resolve their dispute peaceful and Tokyo and Washington's commitment is under threat because of that?

On Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Japan was “sparing no effort” to get involved in the South China Sea issue, saying Japan was behind the times in the rapidly improving China-Philippines relationship.

Exactly. It seems Japan is getting nervous now China and Philippines are trying to become friend once again and resolve their dispute peacefully.

Abe will hold one-on-one talks with Duterte at his residence in Tokyo on Wednesday night following a larger, more formal meeting with senior officials, the sources said.

Something Abe doesn't want to say or show in public? Maybe Washington is relaying some demands through Abe and Abe will try to threat Duterte/Philippines.

Duterte visited Beijing first with an entourage of around 200 business people. On Thursday, he declared the United States had lost and he had “realigned” with China.

Maybe Duterte's thinking is that joining American's Asia Pivot is not as profitable as it was lead to believe. What have Philippines gained since joining the Pivot? Nothing. Except becoming the pawn that have been used by the Americans to agitate and attack China. Now, China have some of the largest permanent islands in South China Sea. And Philippines also lost the disputed Scarborough shoal and the fishing area around it.

Duterte has railed against U.S. criticism of his deadly war on drugs

How many years have the US being on War on Drugs and how many people have died from it? Will Philippines' War of Drugs get better result sooner than the American's? We will have to wait and see.

Duterte places “great value on the Philippines’ vibrant and dynamic relationship” with Japan, a Philippine government spokeswoman said ahead of the visit.

Philippines can have good relationship with China and Japan at the same time. Does Japan share this view?

“In regard to the problem in the South China Sea, we are looking reach a diplomatic solution through cooperation between with the countries involved,” Suga told a regular media briefing on Friday.

It is what Xi and Duterte is doing. They are trying to resolve it through peaceful talk, but Japan is apparently scared of this turn of event.

..“unilateral, dangerous and coercive actions” in the South China Sea.

Like how Japan unilaterally nationalize Senkaku/ Diaoyu Islands(coincidentally, around the same time Japan joined American's Asia Pivot)?

“There is more Chinese assertion in the South China Sea and Japan has more worries it will do the same the same in the East China Sea,” said Alison Evans, deputy head of Asia Pacific Desk, Country Risk at IHS Markit. “Japan has to be more concerned now than six months ago.”

Yeah, without Philippines being on the front of American's Asia Pivot which it have to take the blunts/hits from China, now Japan will be at the front. Hope Japan will enjoy it when the time comes.

May I know, why HONDA is not building a factory in it's own homeland ???.

Simply, Honda wants to make profit and stay competitive. China is a huge market and tons of money to be made there.

Even Boeing is deciding to set up an aircraft plants in China.

From what was said by the Chinese side that indicates that are "angry"?

Nothing the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said seem to indicate that she/China was angry.

“What Japan has said and done once again lays bare their wrong attitude of not acknowledging history,”

Nothing out of line here. We've all seen and know Japan's continuing denials toward its past war atrocities, like the Nanjing Massacre, and the sex slaves.

"Not paying fees to UNESCO to exert pressure is irresponsible. They will not achieve their aims.”

Again, it is just the truth. Japan tries to persuade UNESCO to not list the Nanjing Massacre papers by threatening fee payments. And Hua Chunying is right, the threat won't work.

In any case, there is no reason for China to be angered. The Nanjing Massacre papers will be listed regardless whatever threats Japan uses against UNESCO. If anything, there are probably two other more appropriated emotions China feeling this: 1) Sad: Japan is still denying its historical war crimes and preventing these two countries from working together for their other common interests. 2)Happy: the immature ways of Japanese foreign polices, the way it thought threats against UNESCO world work. And, again, to the global communities, it shows Japan still haven't come to accept its past and still living in denial.

When you don't have good relationship with your neighbors..

The International Olympic Committee played Japan against South Korea. Similarly , like USA played/playing Japan against China.

Japan no longer has visions about the future, about anything, it's just playing catch up now.

It is hard for Japan to have a sound vision for the future when it doesn't have an independent foreign policy.

Just look at Japan when its leader visit Mongolia, Russia, SE Asian countries, African countries, etc, it is always to "counter Chinese influence."

Just last week, China finished Africa's first modern international electrical railway from Ethiopia to Djibouti which will benefits both of those countries for future developments. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37562177

Japan need to stop look at China's and Its relationship with other countries as a zero-sum game. Japan and China can have good relationship and influences with other countries at the same time. There is no country, including China, can stop Japan have a good relationship with Djibouti. Djibouti is a poor and under-developed countries and it can use all the help it can get for its infrastructure and civil developments. If Japan really wants/needs to "counter Chinese influence" then maybe it can help Djibouti develop too.

And Abe replied : "Why make something never happened a central issue?"

This is just one of many actions shows the past Japanese so-called apologies are insincere and that it will continue to cover-up and whitewash the atrocities it had committed in around Asia, including South Korea and China.

What a political circus.

I guess these people left their Black Vans at home today, eh?

i think finally japan has a true leader of strength and character, perhaps china and america could take lessons from abe . you cannot rule from a position of apologist weakness.

It takes way more strength, courage and honor to admit the fast and sincerely apologize then whatever the heck Abe, his wife and Japan government is doing right now.

It is damn obvious she went there in his place.

Why even pretend to do apologies anymore?