As Abe visits U.S. to strengthen alliance, S. Korea should have strategic thinking

As Abe visits U.S. to strengthen alliance, S. Korea should have strategic thinking. April. 25, 2015 07:24. .

Japan`s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit the United States for one week from Sunday to strengthen the bilateral alliance. On April 29, he will become the first Japanese prime minister to deliver a speech at a joint session of U.S. Congress on the world peace and prosperity led jointly by the victor and loser of the World War II. Following the rapid rise of China, the close ties between the U.S. and Japan is shaking up the strategic order in Asia.

This year, which marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the World War II and Korea`s liberation from Japan`s colonial rule, Abe`s government has made full efforts to upgrade its alliance with the U.S. Japan postponed its joining of the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), apparently in consideration of the U.S. Abe will not attend Russia`s World War II victory events. Although Abe is under criticism for his retrogressive view of history, he is seen by Washington as the most reliable Japanese leader. The British daily Financial Times commented that Washington is "prepared to tolerate a little `Abenesia` – the downplaying of Japan’s war record – if that is the price of a strong leader."

Twenty-five U.S. House representatives sent a letter to the Japanese embassy in Washington on Thursday, urging Abe to "face history" and officially reaffirm his predecessors` statements repenting on and apologizing for Japan`s wartime atrocities. If Abe turns a blind eye to the history of Japan`s aggression and colonial rules and only focuses on reaping the fruits of an upgraded Tokyo-Washington alliance, he would face strong backlash from the international community.

The closer ties between the U.S. and Japan and Tokyo`s diplomatic rise have added to South Korea`s diplomatic burdens. There are signs that the prolonged tensions between Seoul and Tokyo are causing fatigue in Washington about South Korea`s "obsession" with history. In South Korea`s reality, in which the Seoul-Washington alliance is more important than anything else despite the increasing economic weight of China, there are concerns that Seoul might be left alone. In a situation where Japan is seeking to further solidify its alliance with the U.S., it is imperative that South Korea protect its national interest with strategic thinking from the perspective of realpolitik.

The fact that even China is alternating between hardline and appeasement policies toward Japan speaks volume to South Korea. It is true that South Korea, a victim of Japan`s colonial rule, cannot downplay history issues in its relationship with Japan and has to deal sternly with Tokyo`s "provocations." However, it is time that we looked back to see if the South Korean government or society is so obsessed with the issue as to sacrifice more important than national interest. Both Seoul and Tokyo should make efforts to prevent the past from putting shackles on the present and the future.