How to win friends and influence people - Shinzo Abe style
75 years on from its defeat in WWII, Japan's alliance with the West strengthens.
AUGUST marks the 75th anniversary of Victory over Japan (VJ Day) that finally brought closure to World War II. While Japan was a major US foe then, today Tokyo's importance in the Western alliance is of significant, and growing, strategic importance again.
Not only is Japan a longstanding member of Western clubs such as the G-7 alongside Italy, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, there is also growing policy speculation that it could be invited to join the so-called 'Five Eyes' intelligence alliance which currently comprises Canada, the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand.
A key part of the rationale for Japan's growing geopolitical importance is that, just like the start of the Cold War, it is perceived in the West as a key bulwark against the advance of China and potentially Russia into Asia-Pacific. Yet, while much emphasis is put on the security pillar of the Japanese-Western alliance, economics is important too.
KEYWORDS IN THIS ARTICLE
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
Columns
‘Competition for talent’ a poor excuse to keep key executives’ pay under wraps
OCBC should put its properties into a Reit and distribute the trust’s units to shareholders
Why a stronger US dollar is dangerous
An overstimulated US economy is asking for trouble
Too many property agents? Cap commissions on home sales
Time to study broadening of private market access