Senior business leaders, former diplomats and government advisers, and national security experts Friday warned that while Japan's relationship with the United States is the foundation for regional security, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's attempts to forge a close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump carried risks for Japan's international reputation and its own security.
As Abe prepared to hold talks with Trump in Washington and Florida, much official and media attention is on how well the two leaders will get along. But at the annual Kansai Economic Seminar in Kyoto, Abe's budding bromance with the president came under criticism, with some advising that he get close — but not too close — to the controversial Trump and focus more on engagement with China and Asia.
"While personal relations between Abe and Trump are important, if Abe is seen as simply pandering to him it won't be good for Japan. By just trying to accommodate Trump's demands, Japan will be criticized by the international community," said Tsutomu Takanose, senior vice president and deputy general manager at Mitsubishi Corporation's Kansai branch.
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