The Rise of Abe

Last week a new Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, came to office. It has not recieved much attention here, we have been occupied with the morality of  an obscure congressman, but this Japanese leader may be one to watch.

The Guardian comments, "Abe's premiership is likely to presage growing tension between China and Japan over the latter's conduct in the war, their respective roles in east Asia in the context of China's ever growing influence, and the disputed Diaoyu (or, as Japan calls them, Senkaku) islands, whose territorial waters are believed to contain major supplies of oil and gas. His election will be viewed with considerable concern in Beijing, although that outcome has been fairly predictable for some time."

Vivienne Scott of the Epoch Times writes that:

The first prime minister born after WWII, Abe is considered young at age 52, and he has chosen a cabinet of close friends and colleagues whom politicos call "hawkish." He is in favor of altering Article 9 of Japan's pacifist constitution, which only allows his country to raise a military capable of defensive action. In laymen's terms, Mr. Abe wants a Japanese army that can wage war. And he is not alone - the Japanese public is almost evenly split on the issue.

He is in favor of seeking a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, and made campaign promises to that end.

As North Korea continues to rattle its nuclear saber and Japan will feel the pressure as much as will South Korea. If the assessment of Abe and his political associates is correct look for him to take a more aggressive posture. A more militant Japan will create a new element in the Asian equation.

Indeed the world is heating up.