Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during a press conference after a call with Donald Trump, after his election, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, November 7, 2024. MASAMINE KAWAGUCHI / THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN VIA AFP The Big Two allies of the United States in the Pacific reacted differently to the return of Donald Trump to the White House: phlegm tinged with apprehension in Japan, frank concern in Seoul. Unlike the victory of the Republican candidate in 2016, which took them by surprise, this time, the Japanese were not really surprised. “With a majority in both houses and allies in the Supreme Court, Donald Trump will follow his instinct without the slightest brake and Japan should expect it,” said Tetsuo Kotani, member of the Institute of International Affairs of Japan. Tokyo had prepared for a victory for Donald Trump by sending Taro Aso, a right-wing figure in the Liberal Democratic Party (PLD), to New York in April to meet with the Republican candidate who had received him. But the president-elect’s refusal to have a tête-à-tête with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who, following the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summits in Lima, then the G20, in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), planned to go to New York to meet him, could indicate, according to the Japanese press, that Mr. Ishiba is not favored by Mr. Trump. In 2016, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2012-2020) was the first foreign leader to be received by Donald Trump a week after the latter’s election. The meeting with Mr. Ishiba, carefully prepared by Tokyo, was canceled under the pretext that the president-elect will not have any tête-à-tête with a foreign leader before his inauguration, scheduled for January 20, 2025. Donald Trump seems not to having hesitated to put Mr. Ishiba, weakened by the defeat of his party during the elections of October 27, in an embarrassing situation by this last minute refusal. Read also | Article reserved for our subscribers South Korea and Japan are worried about Trump’s return to the White House Read later South Korean leaders, for their part, are worried about the return to power of Donald Trump with whom they do not have never had much affinity: a “deal”, above their heads, with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would be the prelude to difficult days for Seoul. Trade frictions South Korea and Japan expect trade frictions, such as raising tariffs to reduce the US trade deficit, and demands to increase their contribution to the US troop presence on their territory (58,000 men in Japan and 27,000 in South Korea). Seoul and Tokyo have taken the lead in increasing their shares. Japan has also committed to doubling its defense budget (from 1% to 2% of GDP) over the next five years. Although it has always been a most faithful ally of the United States, South Korea is considered by the president-elect as a “burden” but also… “a money machine” which must pay to be defended. You have 64.64% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
Author : News7
Publish date : 2024-11-26 17:25:49
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