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Obama Juggles Itinerary in Bid to Ease Tensions Between Two Asian Allies Obama Juggles Itinerary in Bid to Ease Tensions Between Two Asian Allies
(6 months later)
WASHINGTON — When President Obama brings together the estranged leaders of Japan and South Korea for a peacemaking session in The Hague on Tuesday evening, it will be the culmination of three months of intense behind-the-scenes American diplomacy. WASHINGTON — When President Obama brings together the estranged leaders of Japan and South Korea for a peacemaking session in The Hague on Tuesday evening, it will be the culmination of three months of intense behind-the-scenes American diplomacy.
The unusual effort included a phone call from Mr. Obama to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan; a follow-up lunch that the American ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, had with Mr. Abe; a decision to put both Tokyo and Seoul on Mr. Obama’s itinerary when he visits Asia next month; and a plan to resolve this neighborhood quarrel on the ultimate neutral ground: a stately Dutch city accustomed to litigating international disputes.The unusual effort included a phone call from Mr. Obama to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan; a follow-up lunch that the American ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, had with Mr. Abe; a decision to put both Tokyo and Seoul on Mr. Obama’s itinerary when he visits Asia next month; and a plan to resolve this neighborhood quarrel on the ultimate neutral ground: a stately Dutch city accustomed to litigating international disputes.
“The diplomacy of northeast Asia is a little like junior prom: Cathy won’t sit with Jamie, but maybe she would if Sally comes over and sits with them,” said Michael J. Green, a senior adviser on Asia in the George W. Bush administration. “The U.S. can never solve these problems, but we can be quite effective in managing them.”“The diplomacy of northeast Asia is a little like junior prom: Cathy won’t sit with Jamie, but maybe she would if Sally comes over and sits with them,” said Michael J. Green, a senior adviser on Asia in the George W. Bush administration. “The U.S. can never solve these problems, but we can be quite effective in managing them.”
In this case, Mr. Abe and President Park Geun-hye of South Korea have barely been on speaking terms since coming to power just over a year ago. Their antagonism is complex and deeply personal, rooted in World War II history as well as their own conservative and nationalist political leanings, which make old animosities even harder to overcome.In this case, Mr. Abe and President Park Geun-hye of South Korea have barely been on speaking terms since coming to power just over a year ago. Their antagonism is complex and deeply personal, rooted in World War II history as well as their own conservative and nationalist political leanings, which make old animosities even harder to overcome.
The feud has been a growing source of anxiety for the White House, not the least because of worries that China could use the ill will to drive a wedge between America’s two key allies in Asia. That would give China a freer hand in the East China Sea. Divided, Japan and South Korea are also less effective in pressuring North Korea over its nuclear program.The feud has been a growing source of anxiety for the White House, not the least because of worries that China could use the ill will to drive a wedge between America’s two key allies in Asia. That would give China a freer hand in the East China Sea. Divided, Japan and South Korea are also less effective in pressuring North Korea over its nuclear program.
Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. attempted to repair the breach in a visit to Japan and South Korea in December, urging both Mr. Abe and Ms. Park to avoid actions and statements that would inflame the tensions.Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. attempted to repair the breach in a visit to Japan and South Korea in December, urging both Mr. Abe and Ms. Park to avoid actions and statements that would inflame the tensions.
But Mr. Abe ignored Mr. Biden’s suggestion not to visit the Yasukuni Shrine, a memorial to the Japanese war dead that has become a loaded symbol to Koreans and Chinese because it also honors people who are war criminals. Mr. Abe’s visit, on the first anniversary of his government, Dec. 26, plunged relations with Seoul into an even deeper freeze.But Mr. Abe ignored Mr. Biden’s suggestion not to visit the Yasukuni Shrine, a memorial to the Japanese war dead that has become a loaded symbol to Koreans and Chinese because it also honors people who are war criminals. Mr. Abe’s visit, on the first anniversary of his government, Dec. 26, plunged relations with Seoul into an even deeper freeze.
Convinced the two were not going to mend relations on their own, the White House proposed a “trilateral” meeting with Mr. Obama at the nuclear security summit in the Netherlands. The European locale and nonproliferation theme made sense. “It’s a multilateral meeting not in Asia,” said a senior administration official, “and a multilateral meeting about the one thing Japan and South Korea are in agreement on.”Convinced the two were not going to mend relations on their own, the White House proposed a “trilateral” meeting with Mr. Obama at the nuclear security summit in the Netherlands. The European locale and nonproliferation theme made sense. “It’s a multilateral meeting not in Asia,” said a senior administration official, “and a multilateral meeting about the one thing Japan and South Korea are in agreement on.”
Mr. Obama’s participation was critical: In a call on March 6, the president told Mr. Abe he wanted to bring his two allies together. At a lunch that day, Ambassador Kennedy fleshed out the idea. Mr. Abe was receptive, American officials said, but the problem was a penchant in Japan — if not by Mr. Abe, then by those close to him — to reopen Korean wounds with nationalistic statements.Mr. Obama’s participation was critical: In a call on March 6, the president told Mr. Abe he wanted to bring his two allies together. At a lunch that day, Ambassador Kennedy fleshed out the idea. Mr. Abe was receptive, American officials said, but the problem was a penchant in Japan — if not by Mr. Abe, then by those close to him — to reopen Korean wounds with nationalistic statements.
Mr. Abe could regain Ms. Park’s trust, she told Mr. Biden, only if he took “sincere measures” to alter the perception that Japan wanted to glorify its wartime history, not repent for it. Diplomats from the two countries began working out ways to build mutual trust; the United States offered encouragement but left the mechanics to them.Mr. Abe could regain Ms. Park’s trust, she told Mr. Biden, only if he took “sincere measures” to alter the perception that Japan wanted to glorify its wartime history, not repent for it. Diplomats from the two countries began working out ways to build mutual trust; the United States offered encouragement but left the mechanics to them.
Perhaps South Korea’s deepest grievance is the issue of “comfort women,” thousands of girls and woman who were abducted or lured by the Japanese to work in prostitution camps during World War II. Japan issued a formal apology for the abuses, known as the Kono Statement, in 1993. But with nationalism on the rise, a top adviser to Mr. Abe said Japan planned to review the statement, fanning new outrage in Seoul.Perhaps South Korea’s deepest grievance is the issue of “comfort women,” thousands of girls and woman who were abducted or lured by the Japanese to work in prostitution camps during World War II. Japan issued a formal apology for the abuses, known as the Kono Statement, in 1993. But with nationalism on the rise, a top adviser to Mr. Abe said Japan planned to review the statement, fanning new outrage in Seoul.
Earlier this month, Mr. Abe tried to settle the issue, telling the Japanese Parliament that his government would not alter or retract the Kono Statement. Mr. Abe also pledged to curb provocative statements by those close to him, though on Sunday an aide again raised doubts about the 1993 apology, showing the challenge that Mr. Abe faces.Earlier this month, Mr. Abe tried to settle the issue, telling the Japanese Parliament that his government would not alter or retract the Kono Statement. Mr. Abe also pledged to curb provocative statements by those close to him, though on Sunday an aide again raised doubts about the 1993 apology, showing the challenge that Mr. Abe faces.
The White House had one more hurdle to jump: Mr. Obama was planning a trip to Asia in April to make up for one he canceled in October because of the government shutdown. The administration added Japan to the original itinerary of Malaysia and the Philippines.The White House had one more hurdle to jump: Mr. Obama was planning a trip to Asia in April to make up for one he canceled in October because of the government shutdown. The administration added Japan to the original itinerary of Malaysia and the Philippines.
That alarmed Koreans and their advocates in Washington. In an op-ed in the Washington Post, Mr. Green and his Bush administration colleagues Victor Cha and Richard Armitage said that “visiting key treaty allies Tokyo and Manila, while skipping another key ally, South Korea, on Obama’s first trip to Asia of his second term would be an embarrassment” for Ms. Park.That alarmed Koreans and their advocates in Washington. In an op-ed in the Washington Post, Mr. Green and his Bush administration colleagues Victor Cha and Richard Armitage said that “visiting key treaty allies Tokyo and Manila, while skipping another key ally, South Korea, on Obama’s first trip to Asia of his second term would be an embarrassment” for Ms. Park.
The White House, after much internal debate, then added Seoul to the itinerary. The advantage, analysts said, is that South Korea and Japan have equal incentive to make the meeting in The Hague work, since they will both host Mr. Obama a month later.The White House, after much internal debate, then added Seoul to the itinerary. The advantage, analysts said, is that South Korea and Japan have equal incentive to make the meeting in The Hague work, since they will both host Mr. Obama a month later.
“Neither Abe nor Park want the summit in their country to be all about the president pressuring them to get along with each other,” Mr. Green said. “They want to trumpet their own accomplishments.”“Neither Abe nor Park want the summit in their country to be all about the president pressuring them to get along with each other,” Mr. Green said. “They want to trumpet their own accomplishments.”