Posted on 03/26/2015 3:19:08 PM PDT by Citizen Zed
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will address a joint meeting of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on April 29, becoming the first Japanese leader to do so.
Abe will spend eight days on a state visit expected to focus on joint responses to growing Chinese assertiveness in Asia, including his moves to loosen restraints on Japan's pacifist postwar constitution.
In announcing the invitation to the Japanese leader, U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner said Abe's speech would be an opportunity for Americans to hear from a close ally about ways to expand cooperation on economic and security priorities.
"That, of course, includes working together to open markets and encourage more economic growth through free trade," Boehner said in a statement.
Trade is an important component of President Barack Obama's diplomatic and security "pivot" to Asia. Progress toward a 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal has been touted as a key hope for Abe's visit to the United States, starting April 28.
Congress, however, has been slow to finalize legislation to speed such agreements.
There had been some resistance to offering Abe the honor of addressing both houses.
An organization for former U.S. prisoners of the Japanese and a Korean-American forum said last week he should only be allowed to make the address if he acknowledged Japan's World War Two past.
Abe cuts a controversial figure in parts of Asia given what critics see as his attempts to water down past statements about the behavior of Japan's Imperial Army during the war.
Washington has stressed the need for Japan and its neighbors, including another U.S. treaty ally, South Korea, to bury historical animosities.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
I wonder if the White Hut was consulted first.
That will be it, in a nutshell, after a whole ton of long, polite stuff.
This makes a perfect, Japanese stereoisomer to Bibi’s presentation:
1. We love you guys
2. We’re not sure we can trust your President
3. We feel an external threat, and we need to know you know about it, very well
Obama throwing another hissy-fit in 3...2...1...
RE: Japan PM Abe to address joint session of U.S. Congress
Who is going to translate? Or is Abe going to do it in Engrish?
That being said, if he feels his accent or something of that nature would be a distraction, he may choose to use a trusted translator. Certainly, not one from BO's state department.
I'm looking forward to his remarks. His father was not afraid of saying what needed to be said when I lived in Japan 1988-2002, and I doubt that the apple falls far from the tree.
Yup.
“Change our defensive posture” is a code word for “assemble our nukes.”
And obama has helped create the situation that make the Japanese feel this is necessary.
Yet another massive policy failure by obama. Yup, elections have consequences...
He can. Easily. But might not.
My guess is that he will. When it was crunch time for Tokyo to give its presentation before the International Olympic Committee, he did very well in English...and I might add, snagged the Tokyo Summer Olympics for 2020!! (Of course, Kristal Takigawa’s o-mo-te-na-shi moment helped matters, too).
My guess is that he will. When it was crunch time for Tokyo to give its presentation before the International Olympic Committee, he did very well in English...and I might add, snagged the Tokyo Summer Olympics for 2020!! (Of course, Kristal Takigawa’s o-mo-te-na-shi moment helped matters, too).
Japan wants and needs America’s protection.
Without US troops on Japanese ground.
Can we really cover Asia from Guam ?
China will be watching with full eyes you can bet on it.
Is Bammy throwing a hissy fit about this address?
Will the Democrats walk out?
Is Barry going to try to undermine him as well as a foreign leader of the “Conservative” party, and a “war monger” that wants to rebuild Japan’s Royal Navy?
What secrets will obama reveal about Japan now?
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