Trump became the first leader to visit Japan after the new Emperor Japan, and became the first foreign head of state to receive the Emperor of Japan.
This is extremely unusual and normal.Unusual is that Trump does not respect Prime Minister Abe.Abe and Trump's meetings will always become a ridiculous object of Japanese media. If Abe embarrassed when Trump holds his hands tightly, or accompanied Trump to play golf, he fell into ugliness.The general couple squeezed out the red carpet.For Japan, Trump is blatantly, either requires Japan to increase security costs or desperately asking about trade in trade.In terms of exchange rates and trade imbalances, the United States lists Japan and China and Germany as three major trading countries to the United States.
Normally, the United States and Japan are all ally.The US -Japan -Australian Political and Military League relations constitute the strategic cornerstone of the US Asia -Pacific and even Indo -Pacific regions.After Trump came to power, European and Canadian leaders had no relationship with them, but Abe was always humble and respectful to Trump.In terms of siege of Huawei of Chinese technology companies, Japan is more active than members of the Five Eye Alliance and actively abandon Huawei 5G technology and equipment.As a result, Trump gave the Japanese government and Abe's face.
However, Trump's visit to Japan is not a pure friendship, mainly to highlight the importance of the United States and Japan alliances.Deepening the US -Japan League relations is the basic national policy of the post -war United States.Although Trump does not pay much attention to ideological and geopolitical alliances, when alliance relations can give priority to the United States that they pursue, Trump certainly also values this relationship.European allies are not only puzzled on NATO's security costs, but also facing the United States in trade. They also perform negatively in restricting Huawei technology and equipment.In contrast, Japan is more worthy of Trump trust.
More importantly, the extreme pressure on the United States on China is superimposed from the trade war to the scientific and technological war, and through the military sales of Taiwan and the existence of the military in the South China Sea, it has a three -dimensional compression of China.The United States needs heavyweight allies like Japan to curb the United States with the United States, and Japan also actively acts as anti -China pioneers in the United States.Chinese factors are important reasons to maintain the US -Japan League relations.
To receive Trump, Abe was fully prepared.The accompanying golf became Abe's reception of Trump's retention show. In addition, Trump was arranged to watch the big sumo of Japan, and then Abe accompanied Trump to board the quasi -aircraft carrier out of the cloud -class frigates.Golf and Great Sumo show the private friendship between Abe and Trump. The two leaders of Anti appeared on the clouds and symbolized the close military alliance between the two countries.More importantly, because Japanese quasi-aircraft carriers are equipped with the most advanced F-35B stealth fighter in the United States, it also reflects Japan's signal to Trump ’s purchase of more US fighters to balance the US trade deficit through military sales.
Of course, the diplomatic ceremony of the Trump couples to visit the new Emperor and wife is also essential. Japan needs this ritual to show the special relationship between the United States and Japan to the world.
Abe's reception of the Trump couple can be described as painstaking. In each process and every scene, Japan has made actuarials, not only giving the Foot Langpu face, but also the ultimate use of Japan's use of the United States.The exquisiteness and exquisiteness became a great gift for Abe gave Trump.However, Trump, who is rude but profitable, does not give up the US's demands on Japan when he is glad to receive Abe's humble reception.
For Japan's trade negotiations, entangled in the yen exchange rate, service trade, and tariffs on automobiles and agricultural and sideline products. Japanese soft nails are against the United States, and the United States is hard back.In order to focus on the trade game against China, the United States has not sacrificed a car tariff weapon for the time being.But from the perspective of Trump's personality, if the US -Japan trade cannot talk, it is very likely to have a great possibility of the Japanese trade war.Moreover, Trump's extreme pressure may be more effective in dealing with Japan.
In addition, although the Second U.S. North Korea's Second Special Championship broke the situation, Trump seemed to have more patience about North Korea.Facing North Korea's launch of missiles again, Japan responded strongly, but Trump seemed to be unwilling.For the DPRK nuclear guidance weapons, Japan has the strongest sense of crisis.Without the support of the United States, Japan will fall into a state of anxiety and helplessness, and the significance of the US -Japan military alliance will be seriously discounted.
At the level of trade, Japan is also deeply disturbed by US unilateralism and trade protectionism.The economic cooperation agreement (EPA) of Japan and the European Union has taken effect. It is the helpless choice for the United States to abandon the cross -Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP).At the same time, Japan has also begun to improve relations with China, and its attitude towards the Belt and Road Initiative has begun to change.Political and military depends on the United States, while economic and trade pursuing multilateralism, becoming the real choice of the Abe government.
When Japan's exquisite self -interest encounters Trump's wayward priority, the flashy of US -Japan relations is full of uncertainty. This is a diplomatic show without a joint statement.Japanese Economic News believes that it is difficult to hide the differences in the United States and Japan.
(The author is a senior researcher at the China Chahar Society, a guest researcher at the Chongyang Financial Research Institute of Renmin University of China)
