Abe displays some adroit diplomacy in his wheeler dealing

The day after he returned to Japan after his visit to China, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in his country villa in Yamanashi on Sunday. Niutanqin, a popular commentator on social media, said in a post:

Modi is the first foreign leader to be invited to Abe’s private villa in Yamanashi. The two leaders had dinner together accompanied by their two translators. The last time a Japanese prime minister invited a foreign leader to his private villa was in 1983, when Nakasone Yasuhiro extended an invitation to US president Ronald Reagan.

Abe arranged his meeting with Chinese and Indian leaders in one week to display his diplomatic skills and his ability to juggle relations with countries in the region.

Having an intimate tête-à-tête with Modi after coming back from Beijing is no doubt intended to draw New Delhi to Tokyo’s side, as shown by the wording of their joint statement on guaranteeing freedom of overflight and navigation, and joint development of infrastructure construction projects.

Abe is playing a big board game. He declares Japan will contribute to free trade with China to insinuate that Japan is not happy with US protectionism; and he curries favor with Modi, making Beijing uncomfortable.

Abe is a politician good at following the score, which is evident to his flattering meeting with Donald Trump immediately after the latter was elected US president. He is a remarkable man indeed, punctual and forbearing.

In this sense, he is a leader true to his mission, serving Japan’s national interests well. He secured valuable deals with both China and India. Anyone who viewed him as a laughingstock before should take a fresh look at him.