In a visit to six countries in Central and Eastern Europe Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has sought multilateral trade ties and a chance to balance China’s rising influence in the region, experts have told
Shanghai Observer, a news site.
Abe concluded a trade mission to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania on January 16.
The report quotes comments from Hu Lingyuan, director of Fudan University’s Center for Japanese Studies, that Japan is seeking diplomatic independence and expanding its diplomatic frontiers amid a high-profile US retreat from global affairs.
The Japanese leader is also seeking to balance China’s expanding global influence, says Wang Shaopu, director of the Center of Japanese Studies at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The Summit of Heads of Government of Central and Eastern European Countries and China (China-CEEC), and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have bolstered Chinese influence in the region.
According to Wang, Abe also reiterated the gravity of North Korea nuclear threat during his trip – despite the reduced tension between South and North Korea – in an attempt to call for greater pressure against North Korea from the international community.
However, given the changing political landscape in Europe and the limited influence of the six countries he visited, Hu Lingyuan is sceptical about whether the trip achieved any significant breakthroughs for Abe.