McCain expects Japan to take lead role in regional, global affairs

Tuesday 02nd September, 10:30 AM JST

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 20 Total Comments Show All

tkoind2 at 03:48 PM JST - 2nd September

Shumatsu the point is that McCain's desires for policy will not drive APAC region policy. Japan is a political mess and China is the nation holding all the cards now.

So the Duh point is that his vision for Asia is unrealistic. Got it now?
Edgar2 at 06:09 PM JST - 2nd September

gee, no mention that South Korea sent 300,000 troops to fight in Vietnam? hmmm, how soon they forget!
mushroomcloud at 06:20 PM JST - 2nd September

Everyone here seems to be talking about japan's relatively weak stature compared to China.

But here's an area where japan can take a lead regional role, clean energy.
ilcub76 at 06:57 PM JST - 2nd September

How can anyone expect Japan to take a leading role in any affairs when the Prime Minister changes yearly? What one Prime Minister thinks is important is less important to the next. Until Japan can show its own country stability and leadership, I don't see how it is possible to be a regional leader.
UnagiDon at 10:26 PM JST - 2nd September

These comments about Japan's "weak" (hah!) economic role compared to China are silly as they seem to presume that economic power is a zero-sum game, i.e. Japan's economy must weaken in order for China's to expand. One look at the trade between the two countries will show you how silly that is.
NYC_Samurai at 12:23 AM JST - 3rd September

ilcub76

How can anyone expect Japan to take a leading role in any affairs when the Prime Minister changes yearly?

Wonder why others don't realize this as well.

Americans are tired of 8 years of a republican administration anyway so McCain proposals are moot.
OssanULTRA at 12:48 AM JST - 3rd September

Alot of misguided belies here. Sure expecting Japan to play any sort of a "leadership role" is silly unless they get rid of that article 9 and other aspects of the constitution to truly move towards being a normal country. Not that military capability needs to be used but simply to have the ability makes all the difference in the world in negotiating at the diplomatic level. Then those who still think that this is China's century aren't following the news. China's economc boom has been and continues to be driven by exports rather than a domestic economy. And as the world moves towards recession, those exports are going to evaporate. Especially as labor costs within China have already risen to the point that they have lost most of their competitive edge of the last 10 years. Finally, leaving economic power aside, China still doesn't have the ideological credibility to be the "leader" of anything besides China.
KitsuneYoukai at 01:15 AM JST - 3rd September

China isn't stronger, they just have billions more people brainwashed as it is in communism. I think Japan does have lots to offer and I agree that one role they could lead in is in the Clean Energy department.
ca1ic0cat at 02:10 AM JST - 3rd September

"And just where does McCain obtain the authority to expect any other country to do anything he wants them to?"

Probably the same place that Obama got his idea for a tour of Europe from.

In order to deal with the issues of SE Asia a more local approach would be a better fit. How to deal with Burma, for example. I'm not sure that the Japanese are well placed to do this but they do need to assume a leadership role, especially if they want a seat on the Security Council.
Shumatsu_Samurai at 03:16 AM JST - 3rd September

the point is that McCain's desires for policy will not drive APAC region policy. Japan is a political mess and China is the nation holding all the cards now.

Hardly. Japan remains a country that does not exploit its full diplomatic/military potential. On the other hand China does not "own" Asia, nor hold "all the cards".

And if McCain became president his influence would carry at least some weight, as support from the US would give Tokyo more scope to reform its policy - if it wished.
mushroomcloud at 03:39 AM JST - 3rd September

Clearly, japan needs to take charge with clean energy. I think this will be a great way for japan to take a regional role as most of her neighbors are not all that good in their energy consumption habits.

Also, japan can take the lead in advancing ways to care for the elderly. Since japan has the largest percentage of it's population ageing rapidly, it can act as a model for showcasing their ability to being Asia's largest welfare state.
OgieDoggie at 02:53 AM JST - 4th September

Also, japan can take the lead in advancing ways to care for the elderly.- mushroomcloud.

Japan takes lead in importing homecare people from other countries because Japanese can not be bothered with taking care of their own parents....yes a real model to showcase to the world there mushroomcloud.
yosun at 02:11 PM JST - 4th September

The first step to be a leader is that u have your own diplomatic policy! Why not the other countries directly follow the US if Japan's policy is always exactly the same as the US's? a few years ago when Japan tried to take part in the UN Security Council, some countries just asked " what we need one more guy of same opinion(as the US) for? "
teaabe at 10:29 AM JST - 9th September

the U.S. candidate 'expects' Japan to...

says a lot about their attitude.
Nessie at 04:33 PM JST - 9th September

Heheh. He does have a sense of humor after all.