Since Feb. 10, 2006, I started the very first post, in which the purpose of Beyond Yasukuni was laid out, it has been over three years.During the time, we have seen more than three Japanese Prime Minister coming and going, Koizumi, Abe and Fukuda, now Aso is fighting a uphill battle as well. In China, economic change is not a sea change, but an ocean change, however, politically, the old system is still intact.
Just when the three year birthday came, the same day, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Beijing. She started the trip in Japan and end in China. No one doubts that she is paying the greatest attention to these two Asian countries.
Three years later, we are seeing more problems, not less. Such as Why Washington ever needs Tokyo any more, considering Japan's lack of political will to take bold initiatives and declining overseas assistance? Why the U.S. relies more on China now than ever, considering the dire global economic situation and not Japan, still the second largest economy in the world? Why the hell Clinton chose Japan as her first destination at all, among all the mounting issues facing the new Obama administation?
Why? Why? Why?
But I want to ask what, what should the three countries do to work together to solve the economic crisis? What Japan can bring to the table and how Tokyo can step forward, instead of increasing isolation? What areas such as energy consumption and climate change that the three parties can lead the world forward?
Just because of these questions, the very blog-Beyond Yasukuni still has the reason to go on, and I plan to continue writing and updating on everyday's trilateral issues. Simply put, we are still not Beyond the past and we do need to do it to move forward.
Thanks for being patient with me and for the past three year's company. Beyond Yasukuni, Happy Birthday!
Any wishes for me? Leave me a comment!
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