The role played by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the G7 Summit in Elmau, Germany, attests to Japan having finally succeeded in creating a new position for itself as a solid player in international politics.

　　　　　The world is now at a critical phase where we shall witness either continued leadership by the US or a dramatic move towards leadership by China. At this year’s gathering of influential world leaders, Abe made his presence known with an impassioned speech on the democratic values Japan is committed to pursuing. No postwar Japanese leader before him has had such an opportunity.

　　　　　Abe did not name China, but his remarks laid bare to the world the outrageous reclamation projects Beijing has been pushing in the South China Sea. China’s actions in the region dominated the discussions about Asia, although China itself is not a G7 member. To European nations, tensions with Russia are a matter of grave concern, while issues involving the South China Sea are alien affairs of fundamentally little concern or impact. But Abe managed to have the European nations—which in April dared join the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank despite US objections, come together with Japan in “strongly opposing” China’s actions in the South China Sea as a problem on a par with Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

　　　　　In 1975, Japan was invited to the first G6 summit, held in Rambouillet near Paris, as a nation rapidly on its way to becoming an economic giant and considered worthy of representing Asia. Japan assumes the same role today as Asia’s representative to the summit. In that role, it was Japan’s responsibility to turn the world’s attention to the illegality and injustice of the Chinese expansion in the South China Sea. As a Japanese leader, Abe fulfilled his responsibility in this regard at Elmau.

　　　　　In carrying out his mission, Abe made a point of visiting Ukraine en route to the German summit, conferring with President Petro Poroshenko and promising a yen credit worth US$1.1 billion to upgrade infrastructure in Ukraine. In a joint press conference in Kiev, Abe urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to honor the 13-point ceasefire agreement reached with Poroshenko in Minsk last February.

Limits to Chinese Way of Thinking

　　　　　Abe’s actions were important for two reasons. Firstly, he demonstrated to Putin Japan’s firm resolution to not accept any attempt anywhere in the world to change the status quo by use of force. There has been a tendency among Japanese politicians to be overly concerned about Putin’s feelings, unnecessarily refraining from stating what must be said because of the still open issue of disputed sovereignty over four small islands north of Hokkaido the Russians occupied at the end of the last war. In all international disputes, not just those involving Russia, nothing good generally will come out of being too timid or departing from one’s fundamental principles. One hopes Putin will take Abe more seriously for having visited Ukraine, delivering a strong message regarding the need to honor the ceasefire agreement.

　　　　　Secondly, Abe was able to confirm with the EU nations that the Crimean and South China issues are rooted in the same basic contravention of international standards of conduct. If the EU nations took action against Russia because of their commitment to a shared value of not condoning a coercive change in the status quo in Crimea, then they must also take action against China because of its unilateral seizure of territory in the South China Sea.

　　　　　Fully agreeing to Abe’s argument, the European leaders stated in a communique issued June 8 that they are “strongly opposed” to China’s unlawful reclamation.

　　　　　As expected, the Chinese quickly reacted by denouncing Abe, resorting to hackneyed phrases, such as: “China is a staunch proponent of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the world…” and “China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha (Spratly) islands and the adjacent waters in the South China Sea; the construction works there are reasonable and lawful.” The official New China News Agency further asserted:

　　　　　“Some G7 members, like Germany and France, have important bilateral relations with China, which makes it impossible for them to get embroiled in Abe’s trick.”

　　　　　However, both Germany and France did indeed “get embroiled in Abe’s trick” and actually agreed to Japan’s contention. One sees the limits to the Chinese way of thinking in this regard: they simply could not understand it was totally unthinkable for members of the free world to brush aside Abe’s argument advocating rule of law and strong objections to a forceful change of the status quo in Crimea or the South China Sea. That the official Chinese news agency would stoop to making such observations is an obvious indication of just how concerned China is about Abe’s proactive diplomacy.

　　　　　German chancellor Angela Merkel, who hosted the summit, extended to President Obama a warm welcome, making sure to show that the two leaders are on good terms with each other. Their relationship soured considerably in 2013 when Edward Snowden leaked information that the US National Security Agency had been tapping Ms. Merkel’s cell phone. Merkel actually had been using another cell phone, which had not been tapped, for confidential conversations. Nevertheless, Ms. Merkel showed indignation at the time. Less than a year later, in July 2014, Germany expelled the top officer of the CIA in Berlin on the grounds that the agency had regularly obtained secret information from employees of German Federal Office for Information Security (BND) and the Defense Ministry.

　　　　　Against such a backdrop, Merkel treated Obama to beer and sausages in Elmau with a cordiality that made one least suspect that they had had such a foul relationship barely two years before. Hard-pressed to resolve its problems with Russia, Germany needs American cooperation more than anything else.

Essential Conditions for Japan’s Rejuvenation

　　　　　There are more than a few elements that could undermine the basic structure of the EU within the foreseeable future. British Prime Minister David Cameron has publicly promised an “in or out” referendum on the EU. If Britain decides to secede, the EU will start on a slow path to dissolution. If Greece’s economy collapses, that process will be speeded up.

　　　　　Germany has managed to readily obtain cheap labor thanks to the free comings and goings of workers across Europe, utilizing the EU market to its advantage. Will the German economy be able to remain strong if the free flow of workers across the EU begins to be restricted? If it loses this fundamental advantage, chances are that it will not.

　　　　　Concerning this point, the New China News Agency observed: “…with the G7’s global influence becoming less prominent, it is doubtful whether the block still has as great a say as Japan expects in international affairs. Thus, Abe is biting a file in making use of the G7 summit to form an anti-China alliance.” While I believe the conclusion drawn is incorrect, I tend to agree with the Chinese contention expressed in the first part of the statement.

　　　　　Having read reports not only by the Japanese media but also the European and American press, one realizes that Obama’s presence was generally very weak at Elmau—presumably not just because he has only a year and a half left as President. Plainly speaking, Obama simply has failed to exercise leadership over the years. On the　contrary, Japan’s presence has gradually been expanding. It now has a golden　opportunity to rejuvenate itself as a strong international player.

　　　　　The essential conditions for rejuvenation call on Japan to move beyond the historical issues of the last war and implement a constitutional revision. Thanks largely to China’s outrageous actions, the international prejudice and preconceived convictions about Japan over these matters have rapidly been disappearing. For instance, when Jiang Jianqing, Chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, portrayed Japan as the “Nazi of Asia” at a World Economic Forum conference in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2014, he invited derisive laughter from the floor. Jiang also had this to say: “It is entirely up to Japan whether there would be armed conflict between Tokyo and Beijing.”

　　　　　Most nations in the world no longer put as much trust in China as before. It is Japan that has now won the trust of the international community. Japan must utilize this trust in order to implement a constitutional revision, which will contribute to its continued rejuvenation as a dependable international leader.

(Translated from “Renaissance Japan” column no. 659 in the June 18, 2015 issue of The Weekly Shincho)