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Obama, Abe Pledge New Era in U.S.-Japan Relations, Tout Progress on Trade
Japanese leader faces skepticism from Democrats on trade accord in Wednesday address to Congress
In a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, President Obama discusses how the U.S. and Japan are strengthening economic ties and reacting to China's moves in Asia. Photo: AP
WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abetouted reinvigorated security ties and progress on a trade accord as the two leaders vowed to work together on issues ranging from maritime disputes to cyber threats.
After Tuesday’s White House meeting, though, Mr. Abe faces a tougher venue Wednesday when he addresses a joint session of Congress and campaigns for a sweeping, 12-nation trade agreement. On Capitol Hill, Mr. Abe will encounter strong Democratic resistance to the Trans-Pacific Partnership and is likely to face pressure to atone for Japan’s wartime cruelty.
Messrs. Obama and Abe’s remarks made clear that the prime minister’s official visit to Washington is unlikely to yield a final breakthrough on the trade accord or a fresh public apology for Japan’s legacy of “comfort women,” who were forced to serve Japanese soldiers in brothels during World War II.
ABE AND ABE: President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tour the Lincoln Memorial during the Japanese leader’s visit Tuesday. PHOTO: CNP/ZUMA PRESS
During a news conference at the White House, the two leaders pledged to move ahead with a trade agreement between the U.S. and Japan that would clear the way for a broader pact among 12 Pacific nations—a deal that Mr. Obama said would include strong protections for workers. Still, they acknowledged the obstacles to a deal that remain in the U.S. and Japan.
“The politics around trade can be hard in both our countries,” Mr. Obama said. He added that he and Mr. Abe both are committed to completing an agreement but noted, “It’s never fun passing a trade bill in this town.”
Mr. Abe said he hoped to bring an early conclusion to the Pacific trade pact. “We welcome the fact that significant progress was made. We will continue to cooperate to lead the TPP talks to its last phase,” Mr. Abe said. “It should be a model for China in that it’s an ambitious attempt to create a new economic sphere in which people, goods and money will flow freely within the Asia-Pacific region.”
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement between the U.S. and Pacific nations has significance for regional stability. Photo: Getty
China was a prominent topic in the talks Tuesday, with both leaders expressing concern over Beijing’s territorial ambitions in the Asia-Pacific region. But both said that strengthened U.S.-Japan trade and military ties weren’t intended to provoke China.
Mr. Obama said the renewal of U.S.-Japan ties were designed to combat maritime disputes in the Pacific and better address emerging problems such as cyber threats.
“We don’t think that a strong U.S.-Japan alliance should be seen as a provocation,” the president said. “But I think we have to do it in a way that brings China and other countries into a common effort to maintain order and peace in the region.”
Mr. Abe said new trade ties with the U.S. weren't being crafted “out of consciousness about China.”
Mr. Obama said the 12-nation trade deal would boost the U.S. economy while keeping China from further dominating the region.
“It’s going to open up markets that currently are not fully opened to U.S. businesses. It’s going to be good for the U.S. economy,” Mr. Obama said. “And because I always believe that good policy ends up being good politics, I’m confident we’re going to end up getting the votes in Congress.”
In recent days, Mr. Obama has expressed frustration with fellow Democrats who argue an agreement would hurt American workers. He is depending largely on Republicans to help pass so-called fast-track legislation that would allow Congress to vote on trade pacts, including the Pacific accord, but not to amend the deals.
Mr. Abe will face skepticism from many Democrats on the issue of trade when he becomes the first Japanese prime minister to address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday.
Additionally, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, a key Republican leader on trade issues, also issued a challenge to Mr. Abe this week, calling on the prime minister to drop Japan’s agricultural and auto industry barriers.
“In the near team, the clearest sign of a successful state visit would be a firm commitment from Abe to eliminate the farm and auto barriers,” Mr. Ryan wrote in an op-ed article in the Washington Post.
Some lawmakers also have called on Mr. Abe to reaffirm and validate previous Japanese war apologies.
On Tuesday, Mr. Abe declined to offer a new apology for his country’s World War II treatment of women enslaved by the Japanese Imperial army.
The prime minister said he would uphold the Japanese government’s earlier apologies for the plight of “comfort women.” He told reporters he was “deeply pained” by the wartime treatment of comfort women and stressed Japan’s efforts to promote women’s rights in recent years.
Koreans, Korean-Americans and others hope he will issue fresh statements of remorse while in the U.S. But so far, he has avoided doing so in public comments in Boston and at the White House. He’s unlikely to go further in Congress, but it will be important for Mr. Abe to reiterate his support of the Japanese government’s previous stances on the treatment of women enslaved by the Japanese imperial army, said Sheila Smith, a senior fellow for Japan studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.
“What he says will be amplified on the Hill,” Ms. Smith said. “He will not go beyond that, because it’s not an issue for the United States and Japan, it’s an issue for Japan and South Korea to really speak to.”
Talks between U.S. and Japanese officials in advance of Tuesday’s summit resulted in a statement on economic, military and technological cooperation, including an agreement to jointly work on high-speed-rail projects, a Japanese priority for Mr. Abe’s trip. The two governments also issued a statement outlining a vision for the relationship between “former adversaries who have become steadfast allies.”
Messrs. Obama and Abe were to conclude their visit with an elaborate dinner and reception in the State Dining Room, expected to last late into the evening.
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There are 11 comments.
China has really nothing to fear from the US or Japan... The US can't win wars against thugs and Japan does not even want to fight thugs.
In addition, within 10 years, both the US and Japan will rely on the F-35, assuming it gets off the ground some day, and that simple fact will place China's air force in a position of "dominance by default" , i.e. nobody will be able to field advanced enough fighter jets to face the Chinese.
Japan is our ally and making our ties stronger is none of China's concern. Why does the president have to grovel at the feet of those that are our adversaries.
Man up Obama.