What to expect from the Japanese Prime Minister's visit to the US?

(Baonghean) - Yesterday (April 26), Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made an official visit to the United States for 8 days. This is considered a historic visit as it is the first time a serving Japanese Prime Minister has made a speech before both houses of the US Congress. What does Mr. Abe expect when he sets foot on US soil this time, and is the Japan-US alliance facing a new development situation that is stronger than ever?

The new regional and global context is making the public closely follow Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to the US this time. According to analysts, this visit will clearly demonstrate the foreign security policy that Japan recently announced in the 2015 Diplomatic Blue Book. Accordingly, Japan affirms its persistence in pursuing the policy of "a peaceful nation", but at the same time, the Blue Book also clearly states that Tokyo will contribute more actively than ever to a peaceful, stable and prosperous world by cooperating with countries based on the stance of "pioneering contributions to peace"...

Therefore, the first message that Prime Minister Abe wants to convey during this trip is that Japan is ready to take on a larger role in regional and world security issues. In the context of China's strong rise in military and economic strength, and its many actions demonstrating its ambition to expand its influence in Asia, observers believe that Prime Minister Abe's hidden message is that he wants the US to commit to appearing in any clash if it occurs with China. This is especially meaningful when there are still many contradictions and conflicts between Japan and China related to the issue of territorial disputes.

US President Barack Obama (left) and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

In terms of bilateral cooperation, Japan's reinterpretation of Article 9 of the Constitution last year, allowing its Self-Defense Forces to engage in military operations overseas, will create favorable conditions for the two countries to expand and cooperate much more closely in the field of security and defense. Accordingly, the leaders of the two sides are expected to have final discussions on the updated principles of defense cooperation.

According to observers, these amendments will reflect the biggest change in Japan's security policy in decades, thereby expanding the scope of Tokyo's security role in the world. At the same time, a set of documents on defense cooperation in a new direction is assessed to support both the US and Japanese governments to better address new security challenges in the 21st century. These are global issues as well as direct regional issues such as the nuclear program of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the US-Japan-South Korea alliance relationship, especially the issue of maritime security in Asia when China continuously claims sovereignty over disputed islands in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.

In addition to strengthening security and defense cooperation, issues related to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) will also be at the top of the agenda of this trip. Because TPP is an important part of the US's pivot to Asia policy and is also a great economic opportunity for Japan. Earlier this week, trade officials from both countries met in Tokyo and significantly narrowed their negotiating positions. Obviously, the positive developments of TPP will benefit both sides, in the context of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) initiated by China attracting many US allies to participate, while the "Free Trade Area of ​​the Asia-Pacific" (FTAAP) project - another Chinese idea - is also being promoted and realized to counterbalance the US-led TPP.

However, there are still many disagreements between the two largest economies, the US and Japan, especially in the two most thorny areas of agriculture and automobiles. Therefore, analysts believe that although the goal has been set, it is still impossible to predict whether a breakthrough in the TPP will be achieved. This depends largely on the political determination of the two countries, if they put aside their own interests to reach a common agreement that benefits all parties involved.

A highlight of the trip that Prime Minister Abe also has high expectations for is his first speech before both houses of the US Congress. According to Japanese officials, this is a great opportunity for Mr. Abe to send a message to the world that the US-Japan relationship, which was mended after the war, is continuing to be strengthened and is contributing positively to peace and prosperity in the world. It can be said that the US-Japan alliance is in the best conditions, that is, a more equal economic cooperation relationship with the TPP Agreement on the way to completion; views and interests are also increasingly similar on international security issues, especially related to China. With such "red carpets", Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to the US this time with the set goals will probably be more successful than expected.

Phuong Hoa