Shinzo Abe visits United Arab Emirates to Advance Liberal Trade

 

Photo Caption: Emirati President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan (Right) meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (left) in Abu Dhabi.

Shinzo Abe’s visit to the United Arab Emirates was the first by a Japanese premier in almost three decades. The main focus of this meeting was to boost economic ties and speed up talks on a free trade pact.

In order to pursue the goal of strengthening economic ties, the two leaders agreed to establish a joint economic committee consisting of the Japanese Foreign and Trade Ministers and the United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister. Abe and Sheikh Khalifa agreed that the committee should meet together as soon as possible.

This committee will make an effort to reach a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council. Japan is clearly expecting a business opportunity with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Japan is especially interested in the UAE because of its vast oil supplies. Japan is increasingly concerned by potential threats to its energy supply. Virtually no oil or gas reserves can be found in Japan, and Japan relies for more than 70% of its oil supply from the Persian Gulf. Abe is expected to visit four of these states in the near future to discuss economic ties with them as well.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070429/wl_mideast_afp/mideastjapandiplomacy_070429172124;_ylt=AuXMZgUck7KgU0DqDoFC9dQZO7gF

Japanese Prime Minister Visits the United States

 

Photo Caption (Left): Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe smile with U.S. President George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush before a social dinner in Washington D.C., April 26, 2007.

Photo Caption (Right): US first lady Laura Bush, left, talks to the media as Akie Abe, right, the wife of Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe looks on during a tour at George Washington’s estate in Mount Vernon, Va.,Thursday, April 26, 2007.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came to visit President Bush in order to discuss a number of topics centered around the strength of U.S.-Japan relations.

One issue was Japan’s relationship with North Korea. Japan continues to demand that North Korea provide proof of what happened to the people that North Korea abducted in the 1970′s and 1980′s. If not, Japan will continue refusing to provide energy and economic aid to North Korea. Bush expressed his support for Japan on the issue.

Besides the abductions, Japan is also dissatisfied with North Korea’s nuclear program, noting that North Korea has yet to fulfill its prmose of shutting down its nuclear reactor on April 14. Bush agreed and said that the patience of the United States is not unlimited. Abe showed some concern that Bush unfroze $25 million in funds in a Macau bank to return to North Korea. However, Secretary of State Rice says this was a wise move not a soft one.

During this time Abe also made yet another apology for his comment concerning the circumstances surrounding Chinese and Southeast Asian comfort women during WWII.

From Bush’s end, he wanted to thank Japan for its support in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bush and Abe also agreed to denounce Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Finally, Bush served Abe an American cheeseburger and said that Japan should import more American beef because Bush was convinced that the Japanese would be better off by doing so.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_japan;_ylt=AoIaIABEV4mE6JCz5flHSBuaK8MA

Japanese Brazil Coin and its Hidden Message

This 500 yen commemorative coin will be issued next year to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of Japanese emigration to Brazil.

The coin will be made out of the same materials as a normal 500 yen coin, but it will depict a Japanese family of three emigrants on one side and a design of cherry blossoms and coffee beans on the reverse. These images were most likely chosen for their representative meanings. Cherry blossoms are a symbol of Japanese culture because they represent a life that is very beautiful yet ephemeral. On the other hand, coffee beans represent the Brazilian economy, rather than Brazilian people themselves.

I propose that Japan is minting this new coin in order to strengthen its image as a friendly, democratic, liberal trading country that is looking to expand its trade industry. In reality, Japan’s population is decreasing, and Japan is quickly becoming an aging society. For this reason, in the future Japan will have an insufficient work force to support an economy that is strained by retirement funds and benefits of the elderly such as medical care.

This means that Japan will have to draw upon immigrants to support its economy. A lot of these immigrants are expected to come from Latin and South American countries. After all, while the Global North is decreasing in population, the Global South is continuing to put out large amounts of babies. This demographic transition will result in the movement of people to where the best jobs are. In effect, this will be a brain drain from Latin and South American countries to Japan where there are more jobs available for people. I think Japan will print this Brazil coin in order to give a good image of friendly relations to ensure its own economic security in the future.

source: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20070418a5.html

Follow Link for Longer Commentary: http://pols51.wordpress.com/2007/04/24/the-international-politics-of-numismatics/

Japan seeking Liberalized Trade through ASEAN

Japan is seeking to liberalize 92% of trade value through making agreements with 10 other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari is scheduled to meet with counterparts from 10 ASEAN members in Brunei on May 4, 2007.

In order to realize this goal of further liberalizing trade, Japan and other states committed to ASEAN have made progress in narrowing differences over terms for a free trade agreement. This is an example of states working through international institutions, in this case an international trade regime, in order to reach agreements so that all members involved will benefit.

There are many benefits of free trade. According to Kegley and Raymond’s The Global Future(2005), those countries that do not interfere with trade at home tend to have the highest average economic growth rates, the safest economic environments, are less prone to civil wars, and are capable of solving conflict democratically.

As in the case of ASEAN with Japan, trade is capable of growing rapidly when countries attempt to remove barriers to trade by reaching agreements with one another.

source: http://asia.news.yahoo.com/070418/kyodo/d8oivb600.html

Military Alliances to Boost Japan’s Relative Power over China

Recently, Japan, India, and the United States had naval drills in the Pacific Ocean. Japan provided escort vessels. There was a U.S. destroyer, and three Indian warships.

These drills were supposed to be for boosting friendly relationships among the three countries and to improve maritime technique.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has repeatedly called for a four-way alliance among Japan, India, the United States and Australia. His reasoning being this is to counter frequent tension with China according to this news article. I’m not sure what kind of conflict he is referring to; I am guessing military.

In this way, Japan is seeking to ally itself with other countries in order to boost its own power relative to China. After all, China is becoming the new challenger in Asia. Also, Japan is not challenging the U.S. hegemon but seeking to benefit from its power.

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070416/wl_sthasia_afp/japanusindiamilitary_070416061321

Environmental concerns in a Globalized World: Japanese and American Sperm

 The number of boys in Japanese and American populations has declined in recent years, and some believe this is due to chemical polutants’ effects on sperm cells.

In the U.S., the proportion of boys dropped from 105.5 per 100 girls in 1970 to 104.6 in 2001; in Japan, the male-to-female ratio dropped from 106.3 boys for every 100 girls to just fewer than 105 per 100.

As one can see from these statistics, the decline in male versus female births is consistent in both the United States and Japan, therefore it can be hypothesized that this is not a cultural phenomenon. Rather, there most be some other causal factor.

Studies show that environmental pollutants are having a negative affect on the male reproductive system. Environmental toxins may affect the viability of sperm that bear the Y chromosome, which determines sex for male.

Indeed, environmental problems know no political boundaries, and the decline in male births on either side of the Pacific Ocean suggests that there is indeed some environmental toxin hindering the Y chromosome in sperm.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070416/hl_nm/male_births_dc_1

Strong, Inter-connected Economies Strengthening East-Asian Ties

Despite China and Japan being in conflict over Shinzo Abe’s denial of past Japanese sex offenses, Chinese President Wen still came to the major Japanese cities of Tokyo and Osaka with the hope of strengthening economic relations.

 China and Japan find each other to be valuable trade partners. Trade between the two countries has almost quadrupled over the period of ten years.

However, there is some tension with Japan not desiring to give up its position as the strongest economy in Asia. Japan is fearful that China will surpass it in coming years and is thus somewhat reluctant to form policies that will benefit China. In this sense, Japan is acting as a realist by being more concerned with relative gains rather than absolute gains.

The three strongest economies in Asia are Japan, China, and South Korea, and each one of them wishes to see themselves as the economic champion.

source: http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070415/BUSINESS/70414009

艺妓 Even Geishas Blog in the Globalized World!

Caption: Ichimaru, an 18-year-old maiko or young geisha, sits at her computer at a Kyoto teahouse where she has been keeping what is believed to be the first Internet blog by an apprentice geisha, December 2006.

The Japanese are currently the most prolific bloggers in the world, and the fact that this young geisha named Ichimaru is now blogging proves that blogs are an attractive way to express one’s own opinion and feelings to the whole world instantaneously! Indeed, technology is truly a driver of globalization. Let me see if I can find this geisha’s blog and post a link to it!… No, sorry. I looked, can’t seem to find it. If someone does find it, please tell me in a comment.

Please enjoy the picture of the beautiful geisha, but beware, she looks frustrated with the computer, even angry. Anyways, my point is, this individual, being a geisha, would have been secluded not only from her own society, but most definitely the world. Nowadays, the Japanese are really jumping on this whole blogging trend, even the mysterious geisha. I wonder what she blogs about!

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070405/lf_afp/worldusinternetblogs_070405132826;_ylt=Ao22mV8KMyTGIqTjqknN1bkWO7gF

Japanese aid in Iraq disrupting the Balance of World Power

source: http://asia.news.yahoo.com/070330/kyodo/d8o6p0qg0.html

The international state system is often associated with the rise and fall of hegemons and the states who seek to challenge these dominating states. In the current international system, the United States is clearly a hegemonic entity, as can be seen by its powerful economy, overwhelming military might, and predominant influence in international institutions such as the United Nations. Therefore, according to the balance of power theory, other states should be aligning against the U.S. in order to ensure peace and the freedom of individual nations in an anarchic world.

However, Japan has been one of the greatest supporters of the United States in the War in Iraq. In recent years, Japan has sent ground troops ground troops on an aid mission in southern Iraq and air troops to operate between Kuwait and Iraq. While Japan did pull out Japanese ground troops last summer, it has since expanded its air operations. Most recently on March 30, Japan renewed its Air Self-Defense Force deployment in Iraq to provide airlift support United Nations and multinational forces for another two years. The United States excitingly welcomed Japan’s decision of continued support in Iraq.

However, such bandwagoning activity is only a sign that Japanese foreign policy is greatly influenced by the United States. Instead of attempting to assert its own sovereignty, Japan is instead trying to snuggle close to the United States and earn favor for future policy ambitions. In this way, the U.S. hegemon is only being reinforced by states such as Japan who continue to work with the United States even in matters of warfare.