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When we think of summer\u00e3\u20ac\u20acwe often think of relaxing on a beach, enjoying coconut drinks adorned with tiny umbrellas, and maybe some light conversation with friends about the books we finally have time to read. Far from the summer mind is the desire to improve cultural, economic, and security ties with neighbors, unless perhaps it takes the form of a barbecue or you just happen to be a national leader. Last month Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did just that \u00e2\u20ac\u201c that is strengthen relations, not have a barbecue \u00e2\u20ac\u201c when he visited New Zealand, Australia, and Papua New Guinea.<\/p>\n
The tour was significant for a number of reasons. For starters, it came after Abe and his Cabinet announced a reinterpretation of Japan\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s constitution, which allows for collective self-defense. As a result, Abe took the time to reassure these nations that although collective self-defense is now allowed, his government is still dedicated to the preservation of peace. This message was continually repeated as he addressed the Australian Parliament offering his \u00e2\u20ac\u0153sincere condolences\u00e2\u20ac\u009d for the horrors of World War II and again when he visited Wewak and Cape Wom in Papua New Guinea, areas also historically significant during the war. However, over the past year Japan\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s moves to increase their global role militarily, a move that has been largely welcomed by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, also sends mix messages to other countries Japan is trying to reassure. For instance, as he preached peace an agreement was also signed during Abe\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Australian visit that now opens the door for the transfer of defense equipment and technology between the two nations.<\/p>\n
In addition to security issues, Abe continued to promote close economic ties with each country. Abe along with his counterparts in New Zealand and Australia, John Key and Tony Abbott respectively, continued to give optimistic lip service to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, hoping that a deal will be reached by the end of this year. Abe and Abbott also officially signed their own free trade pact that was initially agreed upon during Abbott\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s visit to Japan this past April. As Australia\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s second largest trading partner after China, this agreement and his visit to the mineral-rich Pilbara region further emphasize Japan\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s desire to both secure economic ties with allies and ensure vital raw materials for the nation.<\/p>\n
In Papua New Guinea, the last leg of the trip, Abe had another opportunity to promote a positive image of Japan by being the first Japanese Prime Minister to visit the nation in 29 years. His visit came at a time when Papua New Guinea is becoming an enormous liquefied natural gas supplier to the rest of Asia. Always looking to secure additional energy sources, especially as his nation struggles to restart its nuclear power program, Abe promised further investment toward the development of Papua New Guinea\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s LNG infrastructure.<\/p>\n
However, some criticisms were made about Japan\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ongoing refusal to lower tariffs for its local farm industry \u00e2\u20ac\u201c a major hurdle in the TPP discussions \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and Abe\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s decision to find alternate ways to pursue whale hunting despite the International Court of Justice\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ruling<\/a> earlier this year.<\/p>\n Despite what appeared to be a friendly trip to promote mutually beneficial relationships, it must also be viewed as part of Abe\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s never-ending efforts to curb China\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s growing influence in the region and what many view to be their hostile attempts to change the status-quo. Although, China was never directly brought up in any of the public statements, it was quite obvious that the country was on everyone\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mind \u00e2\u20ac\u201c similar to a distracting piece of lettuce covering your colleagues tooth, in which you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t help but glance at numerous times during a conversation. Simply put, it is a message that Japan will not sit idly by while it perceives China to take dangerous unilateral actions. By visiting these nations and providing both military and economic benefits, Abe is attempting to shore up allies in the event that it finds itself in a drastic dispute with China, a dispute many see as inevitable.<\/p>\n Portraying the Japanese work ethic to a tee where vacation is all but a foreign word, Abe continued to work on Japan\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s image and relationships when he visited Latin America and the Caribbean this past month. You, however, should be taking full advantage of the summer vacation and relaxing before the fall semester begins.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sean Mulvihill<\/p>\n <\/p>\n