Prime Minister Shinzo Abe 's trip to Vietnam , Thailand and Indonesia underscores that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ) remains the cornerstone of Japan 's Asian diplomacy . Before cutting his trip short to deal with the kidnapping of Japanese nationals in Algeria , Abe commented , `` Open seas are public assets and Japan will do utmost to protect them by cooperating with ASEAN . China 's economic rise is definitely a plus for Japan but it is important for China to act responsibly as part of international society . '' Coming amid an escalating territorial dispute with China over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands , it appears that Abe 's diplomacy aims to strengthen Japan 's hand vis-a-vis China . Ironically , during his last visit to the region back when he was previously premier in 2007 , Abe promoted an Arc of Freedom and Prosperity . At that time the reaction to this values-based initiative aimed at containing China was lukewarm . Now China 's muscle flexing in the region has everyone worried . Beijing 's growing assertiveness in territorial disputes has raised tensions and left China diplomatically isolated . While everyone is concerned about Abe 's revisionist views concerning Japan 's wartime history , especially his caviling about the `` comfort women , '' there is widespread appreciation in the region for Japan 's post-WWII contributions to peace and development . ASEAN has no concerns that Japan represents a threat to regional stability , but the same can not be said for China . Abe is on a mission to reinvigorate the Japanese economy , win control of the upper house of the Diet ( National Assembly ) in summer elections and push through constitutional revision to remove constraints on Japan 's military . Hounded from office in 2007 because of his poor political skills and failures to address voters ' economic anxieties , Abe II seeks redemption and has hit the ground running . He has publicly pressured the Bank of Japan to adopt unlimited monetary easing and a 2 % inflation target , unveiled a $ 117 billion fiscal stimulus package , sent his finance and foreign ministers on key diplomatic missions to Southeast Asia and Australia , and dispatched an envoy to South Korea to reach out to new President Park Gyeun-hye . This flurry of diplomatic activity is driven by economic and security concerns . Japanese companies are investing heavily in the growth prospects of Southeast Asia . Japan is a leading economic partner overall and Abe seeks to reassure its partners , and voters at home , that Japan will remain a major global player . When the Democratic Party of Japan ( DPJ ) took over in 2009 , PM Yukio Hatoyama promoted warmer ties with Beijing , but that strategy has not exactly worked out . Chinese maritime and aerial probing in the disputed territory in the East China Sea has escalated security concerns and also damaged economic relations . It has been assumed that economic relations would continue to prosper despite chilly political relations , but that calculus no longer holds . Japanese business has played a key role in China 's rapid rise , and will continue to do so , but on a lesser scale as the mood has soured dramatically . ASEAN 's GDP is less than a third the size of China , but the region is resource-rich , has a lot of untapped growth potential and represents a good hedge against political risk in China . Much has been made of the Obama strategic pivot to Asia involving the reallocation of U.S. security assets to a region where Washington sees the greatest economic opportunities and security risks . While the U.S. was distracted by wars in Iraq and Afghanistan , there was a perception of policy drift towards the Asia-Pacific , leaving China to expand its influence . The Obama Administration talks about cooperation with Beijing on key issues , but seems to have settled into a `` contain and isolate '' mode . Abe is also pivoting . He has called for a $ 1 billion ( 2.6 % ) increase in defense spending and will build six new Coast Guard patrol vessels . He also included significant security-related logistical support in his fiscal stimulus package , is shifting security assets to Okinawa in southwestern Japan and is establishing a Coast Guard patrol group that will focus on monitoring Chinese probing in the disputed territory . Abe also seeks to modify defense guidelines to facilitate expanded security cooperation with the U.S. Part two of the Abe pivot is expected following the Upper House elections . If the LDP succeeds in winning it will hold the reins in both houses of the Diet , creating an opportunity for him to push through his longstanding agenda of removing constitutional constraints on the military . While this will prove controversial at home , and in a region where memories of Japan 's wartime excesses still resonate , Washington welcomes the prospect of enhanced burden sharing . China 's decade of smile diplomacy -- aimed at reassuring the region that a rising China is not a threat -- has imploded and its feistiness has only increased its diplomatic isolation . Equally , Japan 's rightward political shift and the Abe pivot could backfire , alienating the region while stoking tensions . The current test of wills and ratcheting up the saber rattling is a dangerous dead-end . Quiet diplomacy and a cooling off period leading Beijing and Tokyo to hand each other a ladder to climb down might prove more helpful in averting some grave miscalculation over the divisive islets . Renunciation of military solutions after all , is a cornerstone of Japan 's post-WWII success and high esteem in the region .
Kingston : It appears that Abe 's diplomacy continues to force Japan 's hand vis - a - vis China . Beijing 's growing assertiveness in territorial claims has raised tensions , left China diplomatically isolate . Japan 's new prime minister is on a mission to reinvigorate the Japanese economy . Abe seeking to convince partners , world at large , that Japan has become a major global player .