Page 29 - Rethinking China Policy

Rethinking China Policy

Then in a landmark visit, he joined President Barak Obama at Pearl Harbor to remember the past in order
to shape the future.

Prime Minister Abe thanked the United States for helping to rebuild Japan after the attacks.
“Under the leadership of the United States, Japan, as a member of the free world, was able to enjoy peace
and prosperity,” Mr. Abe said.

“The good will and assistance you extended to us Japanese, the enemy you had fought so fiercely, together
with the tremendous spirit of tolerance, were etched deeply into the hearts and minds of our grandfathers and
mothers.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/27/us/politics/pearl-harbor-abe-obama-visit.html?_r=0

Not to put too fine a point on it, the Japanese Prime Minister obviously was highlighting the importance
of the farsighted role the United States played after the war, it would be good to see again at this period
of significant change.

It is difficult not to believe that we face a year of upheaval.

Contemporary history is learned on the fly; it is not about inherited skills; it is about shaping skills appropriate
to one’s age and with an old one ending a new one opening we shall see if we are up to the challenge.
Abe’s current trip in the region is about reinforcing frameworks and shaping practical ways ahead to
deal with regional challenges.

This month Prime Minister Abe has gone on the road to meet with the leaders of the Philippines, and
Australia to lay the ground work for moving a strengthened security relationship forward prior to the
emergence of any Trump Administration policies for the region.

He is also visiting Vietnam and Indonesia as well.

The visit to the Philippines from January 12-13 2017 followed an earlier visit by President Duterte last
October.

In both visits, Abe made it clear that he was concerned about Chinese influence in the Philippines and offered
aid and other support for the Philippines to shape a strengthened Japanese-Filipino relationship.

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