The German Marshall Fund of the United States

  • Our Organization
    • About GMF
      The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) strengthens transatlantic cooperation on regional, national, and global challenges and opportunities in the spirit of the Marshall Plan.

    Transatlantic Offices

    • Washington, DC
    • Ankara
    • Belgrade
    • Berlin
    • Brussels
    • Bucharest
    • Paris
    • Warsaw
    • Alliance for Securing Democracy
  • Our Work
    • Policy
      GMF provides effective ways forward to solving today’s transatlantic policy issues.
    • Leadership
      GMF programs offer rising leaders dynamic opportunities to hone their leadership skills.
    • Civil Society
      GMF supports civil society by fostering democratic initiatives, rule of law, and regional cooperation.
    • Research
      GMF publications examine the challenges facing the transatlantic region today and offer policy recommendations to address these challenges.
    • Perspectives
      Media, blogs, podcasts, video on the issues shaping the transatlantic relationship.
  • Our Events
    • Major Conferences & Forums
      GMF brings together hundreds of policymakers, elected officials, academics, and business leaders from around the world to discuss topics from energy to migration, economics to security, urban growth to diplomacy.
    • Recent & Upcoming Events
      GMF is committed to bringing the policy community together around transatlantic topics. Learn about events in its offices and other locations around the world.
  • Our Experts
  • Stay Informed
Search
Home
  • Our Experts
  • ABOUT US
  • FOUNDING CHAIRMAN
  • EXPERTS
  • LATEST RESEARCH
  • NEWS&EVENTS
  • PUBLICATIONS
  • SUPPORT CHARHAR

The Charhar Institute

  • About Us

    • About Us
    • Founding Chairman
    • Membership
    • Contact Us
    • Careers
    • Support Charhar
  • Regions

    • All Regions
    • America
    • Europe&Middle East
    • Asia
    • Africa&Latin America
    • Indo-Pacific
  • Topics

    • All Topics
    • Public Diplomacy and International Relations
    • Belt & Road Initiative
    • The Korean Peninsula
    • Economic and Trade
    • Communication
    • Law, Culture and Religion
    • Energy, Safety and Peace
  • Experts

  • Publications

    • All Publications
    • Public Dipmacy Quarterly
    • Other books and reports
    • Charhar Public Diplomacy series
    • Charhar Newsletter
    • Charhar International Relations series
    • Introduction to Public Diplomacy
  • News&Events

    • News&Events
    • Public Diplomacy
    • Peace Studies
    • Belt & Road
    • Charhar News
    • Announcement
    • For Media
Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram LinkedIn
ForeignAffairs.com
  • ABOUT US
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Careers
  • FOUNDING CHAIRMAN
  • EXPERTS
  • LATEST RESEARCH
  • NEWS&EVENTS
  • PUBLICATIONS
  • SUPPORT CHARHAR

NEWS&EVENTS

Facing challenges, US' IPEF may make the Asia-Pacific economy more...

June 09, 2022

Behind Biden’s Asia Trip

June 09, 2022

US sinks its claws back into Somalia with an eye on China and Russia

May 23, 2022

The Taiwan Question amid Russia-Ukraine Conflict

May 06, 2022

China’s Oil Deal v.s. the Dollar Mar 28, 2022

March 28, 2022

Biden’s Indo-Pacific Foray

February 26, 2022
More

Energy, Safety and Peace

Sudan's 'military-civilian co-governance' dies halfway

November 03, 2021

Human rights standards shall not be monopolized

October 14, 2021

Law, Culture and Religion

Israel's diplomatic breakthrough in Maghreb faces challenges

December 11, 2020

Meng ruling makes Ottawa new front line between Washington and Beijing

May 29, 2020

Communication

He Wenping: Fake news fails in damaging Sino-African ties

January 31, 2019

Resistance from within the White House

September 10, 2018

Economic and Trade

Challenges for the G20 in overcoming the pandemic

November 26, 2020

Liberalization and non-interference by government will clean up Pakistan'...

July 07, 2020

The Korean Peninsula

Su Hao: Tokyo should give ground to resolve tensions with Seoul over ‘comfo...

June 26, 2019

Swaran Singh: Can next U.S.-DPRK meeting be expected?

June 12, 2019

Belt & Road Initiative

China-Africa unity sees friendship of new era

January 05, 2021

Unchangeable Commitment

February 19, 2020

Public Diplomacy and International Relations

The key to peace between Russia and Ukraine CGTN

March 03, 2022

Biden’s first year marked by lows and challenges

March 03, 2022
More

Introduction to Public Diplomacy

Diplomatic Theory and Practice

June 21, 2018

Introduction to Public Diplomacy 2nd Edition

June 20, 2018

Charhar International Relations series

International Public Product: China and the World at the Midst of Revolut...

June 21, 2018

Power and Wealth: Economic Nationalism and International Relationships und...

June 21, 2018

Charhar Newsletter

Charhar Newsletter

August 16, 2018

Charhar Public Diplomacy series

Winning the Chinese Hearts and Souls

June 20, 2018

City Diplomacy: China’s Practice and Foreign Experience

June 20, 2018

Other books and reports

The impotence of conventional arms control

March 25, 2020

How Did Stalin Fall into the “Thucydides Trap”

February 27, 2020

Public Dipmacy Quarterly

Public Diplomacy Quarterly

August 17, 2018
More

Japan to Seek Greater Regional Autonomy through Secret Meeting with DPRK

September 05 ,2018


According to The Washington Post, Japan concealed a meeting held with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) from senior US officials in July. 

The secret meeting, which has previously not been reported, took place in Vietnam between a top Japanese intelligence official, Shigeru Kitamura, and a senior DPRK official in charge of reunification, Kim Song Hye.


Kim Il Sung Square and the Grand Peoples' Study House are pictured from the viewing platform of the Juche Tower in Pyongyang on August 24, 2018. /VCG Photo.


The US officials expressed irritation that Tokyo ensconced the meeting, given Washington's near-constant updates to Tokyo on its dealings with the DPRK.



The timing and Japan's growing strategic autonomy


Observers are asking why Japan and the DPRK held such a meeting. This may indicate that Japan is attempting to build a direct relationship with the DPRK, without guidance from Washington. It is undeniable that Japan is the US' long-time and most important ally in Northeast Asia.



But after following the US for decades, Japan is loosening itself from the grip of US power in certain areas, especially on issues in Asia.



In the 1980s, long-lasting economic prosperity offered Tokyo confidence and strength to make their own way, or even to "counterattack" America concerning the economy.



At that time, the Americans were shocked by the Japanese plutocracy's ambitious real estate acquisitions (e.g. the Rockefeller Building and other landmarks) and called the economic "samurai" practices "another Pearl Harbor."


If we call Japan's increasing autonomy in the 1990s "active-offensive strategy," the current turn should be understood as a " passive-defensive strategy" in an era of uncertainty regarding the US policy toward Asia (and also DPRK) and consequent US-Japan relations.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meets with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Abe's official residence in Tokyo on July 8, 2018. /VCG Photo.


Abe could not wait for Trump's final decision or even the result of a possible "new US-DPRK relations." In that case, both Japan's strategic position in East Asia and Abe's personal prestige at home are in danger. This consideration may explain Tokyo's move to a large extent. 


Another reason is the increasing uncertainty caused by Trump himself, who employs "strategic ambiguity" as a diplomatic tool.


The hostage issue


The Japanese government faces pressure on hostages held by the DPRK. Abe, who decided to take part in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership election, also wants to solve the problem. So the hostage issue is highly possible the driver behind the secret meeting.


Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks to the media as he announces his candidacy for the upcoming ruling Liberal Democratic Party presidential election on August 26, 2018. /VCG Photo.



Reviewing the history of the six-party talks in the past decade, the Japanese government often put the issue of the hostages on the table. Although the international community has grown tired of such behavior, Abe has received growing popularity from his effort to address this issue at home.


Now considering the decreasing effectiveness of the so-called Abeconomy, as well as other negative domestic factors, it is reasonable for Abe to negotiate the hostage issue in order to boost his popularity and leadership election within the LDP. 


So it is reported that Abe will also attend the fourth Eastern Economic Forum in Russia in mid-September, in order to meet with Kim Jong Un. Further details remain to be determined.


It is also said that Abe is looking forward to visiting China this October. He also tried to solve some disputes with Russia not long ago. Perhaps it is still too early to say that Japan is planning to change its Asia strategies right now, but it is safe to confirm that Tokyo is seeking larger strategic regional autonomy in the era of " Trumpian uncertainty."




Executive editor/ Liang Chenglu

Editor/ Kang Sijun


Author: Wang Peng is a fellow at the Charhar Institute

Source: CGTN, 2018-09-02

Original Link:https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d674d3445544f79457a6333566d54/share_p.html




Author

Stay Informed

Don't miss our latest dynamic. Sign up to receive emailed news, events, opinion, and publication notifications.

Subscribe

Follow

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • SoundCloud
  • Instagram
Charhar Institute
  • About Us
  • Founding Chairman
  • Experts
  • Latest Research
  • News&Events
  • Publications
  • Support Charhar
  • Careers

 

"The Charhar Institute is committed to promoting progress in China’s foreign policies and the development of international relations in a more orderly manner."
- Dr Han Fangming,Charhar Chairman

CONTACT US

  • Phone:+86 10 68290431
  • Fax:010-80777830
  • Email:secretariat@charhar.org.cn
  • Facebook:The Charhar Institute
  • Twitter:@CharharINST

©2023 Charhar Institute. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy and Terms of Use