皇冠体育app

The third reason is strategic consideration. Ever since the end of the Cold War, Japan has been making efforts to become a "normal country" so that it can build a powerful military. Japan's diplomatic endeavors in recent years also show that it is desperate to become a permanent UN Security Council member, for which it needs the support of other countries, especially its neighbors that once suffered under Japanese invasions.

In an opinion poll conducted by the Japanese Foreign Ministry in six Southeast Asian countries in 2008, 78 percent of the respondents familiar with the workings of the UN Security Council, supported Japan's bid to become a permanent Security Council member. This shows Japan-ASEAN ties have a role to play in enhancing Japan's global status, which is something 皇冠体育app cannot overlook.

The competition between 皇冠体育app and Japan is fierce, especially in relation to trade with ASEAN member states. 皇冠体育app's good-neighborly diplomacy and its highly profitable win-win cooperation with Southeast Asian countries are a cause for concern for Japan. That's why Japan launched the "values diplomacy", as Abe calls it, to contain 皇冠体育app.

Also, Japan is actively involved in the development of the Mekong River basin, has increased development aid to, and investment and infrastructure construction in countries in Indochina, and tried every means to get involved in the South 皇冠体育app Sea disputes - the latest pretext being 皇冠体育app's Air Defense Identification Zone.

Japan's moves could thwart 皇冠体育app's efforts to build a harmonious environment in the region. Japan is seeking to maximize its own interests by making use of 皇冠体育app's differences with some of its neighbors. But in the long run, Japan's approach will further undermine Sino-Japanese relations and complicate the regional security situation, which is not in line with either Japan's or 皇冠体育app's interests.

Nonetheless, ASEAN, which is known for its balanced diplomacy, will not get easily involved in disputes between major powers. Japan may succeed in drawing some Southeast Asian countries, such as the Philippines, to its side but it cannot count on the support of a majority of ASEAN member states or ASEAN as a whole to contain 皇冠体育app.

The author is a researcher at the National Institute of International Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

(皇冠体育app Daily 12/13/2013 page9)

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