Abe Should Pay for His Anachronistic Conduct

Chen Hongbin   2014/2/14

On December 26th, 2013, the anniversary of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took office, he visited the Yasukuni Shrine that honors Class-A war criminals. His anachronistic conduct resulted in strong opposition in Japan and other countries.

Before he regained the power, Abe said he regretted not visiting the Yasukuni Shrine during his first term. It reveals that Abe will visit the Yasukuni Shrine. Considering strong opposition from the international community, Abe did not visit the Yasukuni Shrine on sensible dates such as the spring and autumn sacrificial rites and August 15th, the day on which Japan surrendered in the World War II. But in fact after canceling visit in the autumn, Abe said he would not give up the visiting plan.

In October 2013, when US Secretary of State Kerry and Secretary of Defense Hagel visited Japan, they lay wreaths at the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery. This visit was seen as a clear US message over the Yasukuni Shrine issue. But Abe insisted his plan to visit the Yasukuni Shrine. The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan now controls majority of seats in both the House of Councillors and the House of Representatives. As a result, Abe administration will pass the bill to increase consumption tax this year. Last December Japan enacted strict state secrets law. Japan also launched National Security Bureau. The National Diet passed 2014 budget bill. And relocation of US military base in Okinawa has some progress. Thus Abe does not worry about the opposition parties’ barriers. He dares to go against the majority visiting the Yasukuni Shrine. After the visit, he pledged that Japan would pursue for everlasting peace. But his conduct is just a contradiction.

Although Abe seems quite confident, in fact he is so hypocritical that he tried to hide the decision. Until the last minute of visit, he called his political ally, Natsuo Yamaguchi, President of the New Komeito. But Natsuo Yamaguchi opposed his visit. Even Shigeru Ishiba, Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan knew Abe’s visit in the last minute. Other leaders of the LDP and the United States did not receive any information before his visit. No matter who dissuaded him not visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, Abe did not take the advice. He insisted his plan although it would trigger a negative impact. Thus the United States and leaders in the LDP were shocked while hearing his visit.

In November 2013, Abe’s assistant Seiichi Eto visited the United States which is ordered by the Chief Cabinet Secretary. Although his trip claimed to exchange views on the DPRK situation, the real purpose of his trip is to hear the opinions from the United States about Abe’s visit. The high level US official warned not to provoke China. After Abe’s visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, US immediately announced that the US is disappointed that Japan’s leadership has taken an action that will exacerbate tensions. Even in Japan some wise right wingers suggested Abe not visiting the Yasukuni Shrine. Hisahiko Okazaki, Abe’s close friend and former Japanese ambassador to Thailand, said that the priority for Abe is to stabilize the Japan-US Alliance. Abe need to realize the priority among various issues. But since Abe did not achieve the intention to meet leaders from China and Republic of Korea in a year, he decided to take the risk and played his last card.

Above all, Abe had played his last card. Now the international community needs to urge Abe to be honest about history in World War II. And Abe will pay for his anachronistic conduct.