Obama could strike a 'political deal' with Abe

WHILE few are holding their breath in anticipation of any dramatic outcome at today's summit meeting in Tokyo between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Barrack Obama, the possibility of a "political deal" that would override obstacles in the way of a bilateral trade agreement between the two nations is not being ruled out.

The fact that officials in both governments have been playing down the possibility of agreement on a Japan-US trade deal that would open the door to a wider Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) pact is taken by some as a sign that both countries are eager to maximise the impact of any breakthrough in Tokyo.

Recent comments by a former senior Japanese foreign ministry official suggested that Tokyo is anxious for more overt support from Washington on Japan's claim to the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which are also claimed by China.