Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Editorial
September 28, 2015

The real reason Japan is coming

THE official visit today of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is a gracious gesture which, we believe, all Jamaicans welcome.

Frequently, pundits read these high-profile visits for their geopolitical importance. However, we think that Prime Minister Abe is not coming because Japan plans to assert itself as a global political superpower. The Asian tiger relinquished this fleeting illusion way back in the 1980s.

The visit to Jamaica is in reciprocity for the visit of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who visited Japan in November 2013, at which time she invited Mr Abe to return the favour. More importantly, this visit is intended to send a signal to the rest of Caricom, following the first Japan-Caricom summit last year in Port of Spain.

First and uppermost in the mind of Prime Minister Abe is Japan’s campaign for election in October 2016 to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. Tokyo is re-engaging with Jamaica and the Caribbean to rebuild its presence which has been seriously overshadowed by the US and China.

Japan’s influence was never very strong, but it was even more noticeable in recent years because of America’s soft power and China’s substantial increase in aid.

Japan’s strong interest in a seat on the UN Security Council derives from its anxiety about China’s influence in the Pacific. A flashpoint is the bitter and potentially explosive dispute with China over the Senkaku Islands, a group of tiny uninhabited islands of little strategic value in the East China Sea.

While their long history of animosity is a factor, it is pride more than the possibility of undersea oil deposits that fuels the dispute. Japan worries that the Caricom countries that benefit from the generosity of China in numerous infrastructure projects would support China’s position, or at least not oppose it.

Japan needs to keep its diplomatic ties with Caricom, which has 15 votes in the United Nations.

Second, and to a lesser extent, Japan’s belated concern to retain its economic status as pre-eminent position of supplier of motor vehicles, electronics and manufactured goods. Its place in Caribbean markets has come under pressure from a surge of Chinese imports.

If Jamaica could be persuaded to support Japan’s UN bid, it does not follow that this will influence other Caricom governments. We suspect that it is going to take much more than the votes of 15 Caricom countries to get Japan what it aspires.

Add to the complexity and uncertainty the fact that Japan is not the only country eyeing a seat on the Security Council, and not the only government willing to be of assistance to the Caricom states in a time of need.

Of course, Japan is not unaware that finance may determine Caricom’s support. At the Trinidad summit, Japan announced a large aid package to be used for climate change, and relaxed the strict application of the per capita eligibility rule. This was to allow all Caricom countries, regardless of how high their per capita incomes were, to be eligible.

Previously, Japan’s position was that some Caricom countries were graduated from their aid because of their high per capita incomes. This change was a major development in their foreign policy and aid policy.

We salute and welcome the prime minister of Japan and acknowledge our half a century of mutual friendship.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Forex: $159.21 to one US dollar
Latest News
Forex: $159.21 to one US dollar
April 16, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United States (US) dollar on Thursday, April 16, ended trading at $159.21 down 6 cents, according to the Bank of Jamaica’s dai...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Bad Dawg vendor model drives micro-business growth across Jamaica
Business, Latest News
Bad Dawg vendor model drives micro-business growth across Jamaica
April 16, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Food brand Bad Dawg is expanding its footprint beyond retail shelves through a vendor-driven distribution model that is creating s...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Landscaper gunned down in Manchester
Latest News, News
Landscaper gunned down in Manchester
April 16, 2026
MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A landscaper was shot dead while working in a garden at a property in New Berry district near Knockpatrick, Manchester on Thursd...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Stona ‘devastated’ by allegiance ruling, appeal being prepared – Agent
Latest News, Sports
Stona ‘devastated’ by allegiance ruling, appeal being prepared – Agent
ANDRE LOWE Sports content manager lowea@jamaicaobserver.com 
April 16, 2026
Olympian Roje Stona has been left “devastated” after his application to switch allegiance from Jamaica to Turkiye was denied, according to his agent, ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Dubai says first flying taxi station completed
International News, Latest News
Dubai says first flying taxi station completed
April 16, 2026
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — Dubai has completed its first flying taxi station, with commercial operations expected to begin by the end of the ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Cuba ‘ready’ for possible US attack, says president
Latest News, Regional
Cuba ‘ready’ for possible US attack, says president
April 16, 2026
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP) — Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Thursday his country was "ready" for a possible United States (US) attack on the communist...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Australian tycoon battles Meta over fake ads
International News, Latest News
Australian tycoon battles Meta over fake ads
April 16, 2026
SAN JOSE, United States (AFP) — Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest is asking a United States (US) federal court in Silicon Valley to hold Meta a...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Trump says Iran deal ‘very close,’ may go to Pakistan to sign
International News, Latest News
Trump says Iran deal ‘very close,’ may go to Pakistan to sign
April 16, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—United President (US) Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States and Iran were "very close" to a peace deal ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct