Shinzo Abe to skip World War II 70th anniversary events in China

Shinzo Abe to skip World War II 70th anniversary events in China. August. 25, 2015 07:21. peacechaos@donga.com.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will not be attending the events being held in China next month to mark the 70th anniversary of the “success of its war of resistance against Japanese aggression.”

"The prime minister has decided not to attend," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters Monday, adding, "He will not be travelling to China shortly before or after September 3.” His decision appears to side with Western leaders who will not attend Victory Day events in China, analysts say.

○ Third Japan-China summit gone up in smoke

Some Japanese media had reported that Abe was examining plans to visit China early next month for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. They said that if Abe visits China, he won’t attend the main Victory Day events including military parade since it could appear as an apology by the defeated nation of World War II. Abe himself had appeared at an NHK program on August 14 and hinted at a possible visit, saying, “I haven’t decided yet (whether to visit China,) but (I would go) on the condition that the event was not anti-Japanese and is reconciliatory in nature.”

Mid last month, National Security Adviser and Abe’s key diplomatic policy adviser Shotaro Yachi visited Japan. Speculations increased then that since Yachi had visited China immediately ahead of the APEC meeting in November last year and pushed through the first summit between the head of two states, his visit would have connection to Abe’s attendance of China event.

○ Abe to focus on passage of security legislation

On Abe’s latest decision, Japanese media including Yomiuri Shimbun said he’s keeping pace with the U.S. In addition, Japanese public opinion that China event will expose strong anti-Japan sentiment since it is what China calls Victory Day event also appears to have made impact. Mainichi Shimbun said Japan strongly objected to China placing “anti-Japan” titles in its events. Another dominant view is that if President Park Geun-hye attends the event that it could expose an image of Korea holding hands with China, and this would be no good to Japan.

Suga said Abe has decided not to attend “because of his schedule in parliament.” This means that Abe will personally look after the passage of security legislation, the most current pending issue. The bill, whose main content is the collective right of self-defense, is currently being discussed at the Senate and targets passage at the regular parliament session that ends on September 27.

Yet Suga said, “We want to make opportunity to exchange frank opinions through international meetings,” hinting at pursuing Japan-China summits at the U.N. General Assembly in September and APEC summit meeting in November.