H. Clinton To Visit Japan on her first overseas trip.

by Paschen | February 3, 2009 at 08:59 pm

617 views | 69 Recommendations | 9 comments

By, Uwe Paschen

H. Clinton is to visit Japan for her first official overseas trip as US Secretary of State for the Obama administration, She will meet with Prime Minister Taro Aso. Wile here in Japan she will most likely talk economy and ask Japan to help yet again, however this time not to finance a War but rather to help the ailing US economy with more cash and as the Japanese Government expects, a plea to have Japans auto industry taking under its wings the ailing big 3 of the US.

Mind you, the German did try that with Chrysler and they ended up letting go of the incurable lead weight that started to drain way too much on Daimler-Benz. Toyota and Honda are not to keen on having to endure the same trauma with GM and Ford. Even though Honda is showing profits in spite of a global recession it would like to stay out of high risk ventures with ailing US auto makers, especially with out having full control over them and having to deal with US unions and CEO is not some thing Japans industry is looking forward to.

On another note, in light of what is happening in the Antarctic Ocean with the ongoing battle between Japanese Walers and the Sea Shepherd. Many expect H. Clinton to address Japans whaling research, as it is called officially. She will most likely do so for the sake of saving political image and appeasing crowds at home that do not like whales to be killed wile eating their pork shops or steaks from factory farms where the animals do not only get killed moreover, never enjoyed any sort of life or freedom nor humane treatment wile alive.

Japan will give Hilary Clinton the most courteous and polite of responses possible and smile for the press wile serving her a dish of whale sashimi with some of the best sake wine and followed by some sweet been pastry. Wile Bill Clinton, should he come along, will visit his former political alley and friend Jun'ichirō Koizumi.

Of Course the issue of the US military base in Japan will be raised as well, some Japanese citizens appreciate the mutual security treaty with the U.S. and the presence of the USFJ, but at the same time, a large number of the population demand a reduction and even a with draw of the US Forces. Many of the bases, such as Yokota Air Base, Naval Air Facility Atsugi and Kadena Air Base, are located near residential districts, and the local citizens suffer from the aircraft noise and fell threaten by them. Further they have been several incidences of rape cases such as the Okinawa case and US military personnel misconduct that made the head lines in Japan.

Last but not least, Japan for it part will address the Kyoto Protocol, wish will most likely get a polite yet meaningless response from the US secretary of State. Leaving us all exactly where we started before the visit since nothing can realistically be done on any of those issues. For one the US is faced with an economic meltdown and Japan does not really want to get sucked into it any further even though it does not want to created any tensions either. As Prime Minister Aso stated he would like to be pro active and help the US. This however he cannot do since he is in no position to commit to any thing nor to promise any thing at all. Being faced with the reality of a minority government and an ever growing opposition from all political front he and his Government can not even pass a tax reform bill in parliament any longer even less make any promises. This visit is when it comes down to it a waste of money and the US as well as Japan know all to well that nothing other then empty words and promises can be expected.

The Press will have a couple of blanc spots to file and the Public at large will get some sugar coded words to hear making all happy and feel that all is fine and well. Elections will soon have to be called here in Japan and from the looks of it the 54 Year reign of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Jiyū Minshu-tō, or Jimin-tō 自民党 will end and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Minshutō 民主党 (social liberal-) will take over. Maybe that would be a better time to visit Japan for the secretary of State.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2009/02/news-item-us-se.html

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/International_Business/Japans_economy_plagued_by_slow_growth_political_stalemate/articleshow/3521440.cms

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/23/business/yen.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan-United_States_relations

http://towardfreedom.com/home/content/view/768/65/

http://www.jca.apc.org/wsf_support/2004doc/WSFJapUSBaseRepoFinalAll.html

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080213a1.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocol

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Sanjay Jha

at 21:22 on February 3rd, 2009

Good Post. Asia will remain big challenge for the new Secretary of state. She will be confronted with problems in Iraq, Afghanistan and South Asia in a big way. Please keep us updated about her visit to Japan.

Amitjha

at 03:44 on February 4th, 2009

diplomatic onslught begins then.Asia drama and american role as director is going to take strategic shift.this is a big challange for obama team.

duo

at 03:49 on February 4th, 2009

Paschen, I learn so much from reading your posts! As I read your first couple of paragraphs, I thought, "My! How times can change in a few years!" I cannot imagine America or her corporate industries going to Japan, hat in hand. Shocking thought!

I hope Secretary of State Hillary Clinton enjoys her first trip in that role, regardless of the menu. GO, HILLARY!

Mary

djermano

at 06:37 on February 4th, 2009

If I was Hillary,,,I would tell Japan we need better cars. The big three is doing badly and so is Japans Toyota and Honda. They do not have cars for the future...no wonder nobody buys. Koyoto is something people give lip service to but the real on ground reality is different. Japan cars are but the same as US designs....they still burn gas, or are a type of hybrid.

We need an electric car that we can call the car of the future, so car makers around the world can begin making. Think of a car with 4 wheels that are also electric generators friction free, to provide power back to the battery. Think of solar panels on the outside, another recharging device, think of hand size mini wind power generators attached to the car that catches the wind as the car moves to be another friction free energy source to recharge. I know these cars could go futher than the measley 35 miles they claim electic cars can only travel.

We need all these options too include hand power windup flywheel batteries that would be even another power source for electric generation. They would self wind when the car goes down hill, and use its power to get up hills. There are so many good ideas to add on such cars for clean kyoto protocol, while solving the fuel crisis. In the winter they could have an algae oil electric generator to provide extra electric power, when you remove the hand size wind generators due to freezing rain......The car makers fail....because they give no decent future car goals or ideas a chance on the market for development... I ask them to change..

As far as the Whale issue she should get Japan to open whale growing farms in the Ocean. The Japanese can be the first government to raise and grow whales. They do it with other fish stock, why not whales? Japan could actually over supply the world with whale meat. Whats stopping them? God only knows. Their blindness is perplexing.

I would tell Japan US troops are leaving. You are on your own. But I would change those US bases into US trading centers...for goods and services...promote tourism...with electric power ships. Get to work on creating new ships that don't run on diesel. It can be done, even using oceanwater wave power current to generate power. Another idea for tax relief is to get the Japanese to support growing algae for fuel. The money earned will pay government services, instead of using peoples money in taxes. PM Aso...can change his name to PM Algae and regain popular support in creating new jobs for the new world support system.

There are means and ways....perhaps Hillary will see this, and the PM so I can help them over come their political obstacles.

Rev. Jermano

Rachel Nixon

at 11:31 on February 4th, 2009

Great post, Paschen.

harringtola

at 15:23 on February 4th, 2009

I enjoyed reading the post. I hope that you are being a bit pessimistic and reality has a bit more of a positive impact.

158

at 16:28 on February 4th, 2009

Another excellent story.

Interesting and educational.

John Quincy Adams (not verified)

at 08:00 on February 6th, 2009

Its hard to see when the economy is going to recover. We continue to hear stories about who's to blame, where government bailouts are going to and how they are being misappropriated. When will the power be returned to the people? When is it our turn again? When can the government step aside and let the people regulate these companies? Thank God that Privacy still exists or else I'd go mad. I'm tired of seeing all this governmental interventionism!

gerrypopplestone

at 18:09 on February 9th, 2009

A very nice piece, Paschen, especially the way you look behind (underneath?) the surface to the real issues! But I think it's good that Europe is not the first port of call this time for the new diplomats, and I hope Obama's first trip overseas will be to a Muslim country too! Keep up the good work!