Summit Surprises and Consistent Challenges

              Last month was a busy time for many world leaders first attending the Asian-Pacific Economic Partnership (APEC) Summit in Beijing, China and then the G-20 Leaders Summit in Brisbane, Australia. These summits, often merely speeches of flattery and pats on the back or of criticism with wags of the finger sometimes surprise everyone and introduce positive policy goals for the future. China and the United States’ announcement targeting carbon emissions at the APEC Summit and America, Australia, and Japan’s decision to continue increased cooperation in military and maritime security in Brisbane are two such examples.

However, let’s not forget that behind all the attempts in “advancing regional economic integration; promoting innovative development, economic reform, and growth; and strengthening comprehensive connectivity and infrastructure development” there are plenty of smaller, almost insignificant, moments that must be blown out of proportion and dissected for their secret meanings. This year’s top moments included President Obama’s chewing gum debacle, President Xi Jinping influencing all the leaders to wear the same traditional, yet Sith lord-like gowns, and Vladimir Putin’s charming attempt to keep China’s First Lady warm.

Alas, there is one more moment that is particularly significant for Japan; Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s painfully awkward handshake with Xi. Drastically different than the warm embrace Abe used with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Abe simply extended his hand, shared some words, which were then translated by an aide and then quickly ignored by Xi, whose face embodied the dictionary definition of unimpressed. However, later during the Summit on November 10, Abe and Xi held closed doors talks, the first for both men since coming to power. Afterward both nations made statements promising to work together to ease tensions in disputed maritime space, an area that has the potential to quickly escalate, and hopes to improve economic ties, another area that has been damaged due to the souring relationship. China had even removed their ships from disputed waters, but unfortunately they entered for a short period again on November 26. Yet, far from any region-altering agreements, the meeting is nonetheless important as a step to improving the tense relations. Although both countries still face major hurdles especially when it comes to appeasing their respective domestic populations and their allies, the two nations have to start somewhere.

Abe’s meetings continued in Brisbane, Australia during the G20 Leaders’ Summit on November 15 and 16, the most important one for Japan occurring between United States’ President Barack Obama and Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott. These nations often performing a balancing act by stating they welcome a peaceful global rise by China, but implement policies or release statements that can be construed as limiting and safeguarding against such a rise. For example, these countries’ leaders “expressed their commitment to deepening the trilateral partnership among Australia, Japan and the United States to ensure a peaceful, stable, and prosperous future for the Asia-Pacific region,” in a statement released on November 16, days after Beijing’s APEC Summit. Such statements are always an attempt to not-so-subtly remind China that unilateral attempts to change the regions status quo will not be tolerated. However, it should be said that Australia released another statement the following day saying it had completed negotiations on the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, which ultimately brings the two nations closer economically.

If these two summits show anything in regards to Japan and China and the hopes for a better relationship, it’s that the process will be slow and arduous with both countries inching toward positive gains and then stepping aside to reaffirm other commitments and attitudes that align with their respective supporters. Yet, any steps forward on these issues are far better than standing still, or worse sliding backward. At a time where Japan faces many uncertainties especially in its economic sector, establishing a dialogue and behavior norms between the two nations can create one less thing Abe has to worry about.

Sean Mulvihill

If you’re still wondering just how awkward that handshake was you can watch it take place here.