Japanese PM Shinzo Abe
BEIJING: The Chinese media kept a close eye on Tokyo as leaders from
Asean countries gathered in Japan for the Japan-Asean Summit.
The three-day summit, which marks 40 years of ties between Japan and
Asean, was seen as an opportunity for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe to rally support against China.
In the latest episode of China-Japan feud, China has declared a new
air defence identification zone (ADIZ) over the East China Sea, which
overlapped the territory claimed by South Korea and Japan.
As expected, Abe brought up the restriction on freedom of flight
during the summit in an indirect reference to China’s air defence zone.
A Japanese official reportedly quoted him as telling the Asean
leaders that “moves to unilaterally change the status quo, moves to put
restrictions on the international aviation order, which is built on
freedom of flight, are strong concerns”.
Under the aircraft identification rules which came into effect on
Nov 23, all foreign aircraft intending to enter the zone have to report
their flight plans to the Chinese authority and adhere to relevant
instructions once they enter the zone.
The Chinese officials reserve the rights to adopt defensive
emergency measures when aircraft fail to abide by the identification
rules or obey the instructions.
State news agency Xinhua said Japan’s inclusion of air zone safety
as a key security issue in the summit was a move to “plant a poisonous
thorn”.
In a commentary, it said Abe’s frequent visits to nations in the
Asean regional bloc in the past one year aimed at roping in the
countries to rein in China.
It criticised Japan of using the East China Sea and South China Sea
territorial issues to cause chaos and discord within Asean and to
undermine the relationship between Asean and its partners.
Global Times was in the opinion that Japan would not succeed in its bid to get Asean to confront China.
“No matter how Tokyo creates waves, it will not gain a strategic advantage over China in South-East Asia.
“No countries will confront China for the sake of a declining Japan.
Even the US, Japan’s patron, has to maintain relations with China while
keeping its support to Japan,” it wrote.
During the summit, Japan has promised ¥2 trillion (RM62.7bil) of
loans and grants to the region over five years. The pledge was
interpreted as an attempt to increase its influence.
Tang Chunfeng, an expert on Japanese issues in the Research
Institute of the Chinese Commerce Ministry, told the Chinese version of
Global Times that Asean countries viewed Japan as the “God of Prosperity” who is willing to give them money.
“They are reluctant to offend Japan, but at the same time, they will
not let China bear a grudge against them. They are only using Japan.”
Tsinghua University’s Institute of Modern International Relations
deputy director Liu Yongjiang added that Asean would not take sides in
this issue.
“Most Asean countries want the region to develop in a stable and peaceful environment, but Japan is constantly causing trouble.
“It will worry the Asean countries and even lead to dissatisfaction,” he said.
Commenting on Abe’s remarks to gather support from the Asean
countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said China is
aware of the relevant reports.
“We believe that countries should not target a third party or
undermine the interests of the third party when developing ties with
each other.
“They should instead make efforts to maintain regional peace and
stability,” he said in a press conference on Friday, the transcript of
which was available on the ministry’s website.
Contributed by Tho Xin Yi The Star/Asia News Network
Don't make waves on China's ADIZ
If Tokyo truly seeks a peaceful and secure Asia-Pacific, then it is in
its own interests to call off provocative moves over China's
establishment of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone
(ADIZ).
According to a recent news report, Japanese Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe is going to stage again its China-is-to-blame game
at the summit of Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN).
It is also reported that Abe seeks to drag the ASEAN
members into an agreement to counter Beijing in searching for "maritime
and air security."
While, for the record, it is believed that
anyone with only half a brain knows that it is Japan who intentionally
set the region on fire in the first place.
Following its
provocative purchase of China's Diaoyu Islands, Japan has wasted no time
in trumpeting up the China-threat theory, and deliberately paints
itself a victim of Beijing's development, which is in fact invigorating
regional and global economic recovery.
Instead of chilling down
the flaring regional tension of its own making and ending the
decades-long economic stagnation, the cunning Abe administration has
labored to drive wedges between China and its regional partners and
neighbors.
Many might wonder why Japan chooses to bury its
relations with China half dead over building up mutually beneficial
partnership with Beijing, which would mean greater business and trade
opportunities?
While, the truth is, Mr. Abe and his government have done their own calculations, but only with a flaw that could backfire.
For
decades, an economically-strong Japan has attempted strenuously to
return itself to the ranks of a "normal country," and become an
influential power by shaking off military expansion yokes forged by the
pacifist constitution in the wake of Japan's defeat in the Second World
War.
To that end, a number of Japanese administrations have been
expanding its military powers, buying votes for a permanent seat on the
UN Security Council, and denying its history of aggression.
The
smarty-pants right-wing Japanese politicians also believed that their
ambitions for the comeback of their hegemonic role in the region would
be categorically concealed as long as it can promote China's growth a
threat to the US national interests, and safety and security of other
regional countries.
In fact, Tokyo has made so big a mistake that
its inflammatory moves have already efficiently worried or enraged many
of its neighbors. It seems to have forgotten that a constructive
relationship with countries around it is the first step toward the final
destination of a normal country.
If keep missing that point, Japan, which can never move out of Asia, can now kiss good-bye to its "big dreams."
Against
the backdrop of world peace and global integration, China welcomes
closer ties between Japan and ASEAN, and Tokyo's active participation in
the regional integration process. However, Japan should never
jeopardize China's interests and relations with any other third party.
As
for China's establishment of ADIZ, it is just, reasonable and complies
with international practices, and Beijing's normal growth of national
defense capacity does not pose a threat to any country.
Beijing
always advocates resolving territorial and maritime disputes through
dialogue, yet it will never allow any country to infringe upon its
territorial sovereignty.
Therefore, if history is too embarrassed
for politicians in Tokyo to face, they should at least face the facts
on the ground and start to pursue its national agenda in a rational
manner. - Xinhua
Abe targets China at Asean Summit
China is expected to top the agenda at this weekend's summit between
Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as Tokyo
seeks a united front against China's newly established Air Defense
Identification Zone (ADIZ) and aims to restore its influence in
Southeast Asia.
The Japan-ASEAN summit in Tokyo, starting Friday, is held to commemorate Japan's 40-year ties with the group.
It
comes after China's setting up of the ADIZ over the East China Sea and
amid speculation that a similar zone would be imposed over the South
China Sea, where several ASEAN countries are locked in territorial
disputes with Beijing.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wasted no time in seeking support from ASEAN countries.
During
a meeting with visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on
Thursday, Abe reiterated his criticism of China's ADIZ. According to
Japan's Kyodo News, Najib expressed his understanding of Japan's
protest.
A draft statement for the leaders "stresses the
importance of freedom of flight through airspace over the high seas, as
recognized by international law," Kyodo reported last week. The document
reportedly does not single out China.
"Abe intends to defame
China and pile up international censure on Beijing," Gao Hong, a deputy
director with the Institute of Japanese Studies at the Chinese Acedemy
of Social Sciences, told the Global Times, but noted it is doomed to
failure.
Citing the fact that even the US didn't stand up to
demand a revoke of the zone as Japan had wished, Gao said it is
unimaginable that ASEAN, who have benefited from China's good neighborly
diplomacy, would act in accordance with Tokyo's will.
Zhang
Yunling, director of the Institute for International Studies under the
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that while
ASEAN is counting on Japan to counterbalance a rising China, they
wouldn't accept statements that explicitly criticize Beijing.
Responding
to the Japan-ASEAN summit, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Hong
Lei on Thursday said that China hopes relevant countries will not target
a third party and harm the interests of the third party.
The
summit is the second of its kind between Japan and ASEAN. Zhang said,
compared to the first summit held in 2003, this year's summit also eyes
competing with China over influence in Southeast Asia.
While Japan used to hold a big sway in the region, China has surpassed it in recent years and is ASEAN's largest trade partner.
In
a bid to restore Japan's influence, Abe has visited all 10 ASEAN
members since taking office a year ago, bringing a raft of business
deals and aid to the region, while pushing for joint action to "maintain
regional peace."
Abe plans to announce at the summit this
weekend that Japan will extend 320 billion yen ($3.1 billion) worth of
aid to boost disaster prevention and cultural exchange with ASEAN, Kyodo
reported on Thursday.
On the sidelines of the summit, Cambodia
and Japan are expected to sign four deals including defense cooperation
and Japanese assistance for Cambodian road and hospital development.
Reuters reported that Japan is also going to pledge a post-typhoon loan to the Philippines of some 10 billion yen.
Hu
Lingyuan, a professor with the Center for Japanese Studies at Fudan
University, told the Global Times that Southeast Asia is only second to
the US in Japan's diplomatic priorities.
"In recent years, Japan
has been using territorial disputes in the East China Sea and South
China Sea to draw Vietnam and the Philippines to its side. It is also
helping the US to lower China's influence in Myanmar," Hu said, noting
the aim is to exert political pressure against China and reap economic
benefits.
Although dwarfed by China in trade, Japan has more
investment in and contributes more aid to ASEAN, Zhang said, noting
"therefore ASEAN countries are willing to maintain close ties with Japan
and use the rift between Tokyo and Beijing to maximize their own
gains."
Sidebar: Abe's 10-country tour of 2013
January 16, Vietnam
The two countries reached economic and security agreements. Japan will provide $500 million in new loans.
January 17, Thailand
The two countries agreed to strengthen economic and security cooperation.
January 18, Indonesia
The two countries discussed economic and security issues, including the East China Sea.
May 24-26, Myanmar
Japan endorsed Myanmar's reform program by writing off nearly $2 billion in debt and extending new aid worth $400 million.
July 25, Malaysia,
The
two agreed to cooperate in high technology such as high-speed rail,
water and waste treatment. They will also collaborate in finance and
security in the Malacca Strait.
July 26, Singapore
Abe
said he intends to promote "strategic diplomacy" in the region,
particularly with an eye to strengthening ties and its economic
partnership with ASEAN.
July 27, Philippines
Japan agreed to provide 10 patrol boats for its coast guard to help counter recent maritime advances by China.
October 9, Brunei
At
the 16th ASEAN-Japan summit in Brunei, Abe called for security
cooperation with Asia-Pacific nations "with which we share fundamental
values."
November 15, Cambodia
Japan offers support in
investment, democratic reform and health, while promoting it will
"proactively contribute to the regional peace and stability."
November 16, Laos
The two decided to seek the launch of a security dialogue framework. Japan agreed to provide infrastructure and medical aid.
By Yang Jingjie - Global Times
Impressive : Najib (centre) with (from left) Liow, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation deputy general manager Bill Ren, China Ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang, Armed Forces chief Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin and China Defence Attache Senior Colonel Chen Wei looking at an aircraft carrier model at the corporation’s booth at LIMA 2015.
In the spotlight: (from left) Xiali, Yu Xu, Yifei and Jiali taking a break under the shade on the tarmac at LIMA 2015.
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