Abe Seeks Trump's Leadership Role in World

Tokyo, Feb. 14 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday that he urged U.S. President Donald Trump to play a leadership role in the international community during their latest summit. "The world will be in confusion and uncertainty will grow further unless the U.S. president fulfills a role as a leader of the free world," Abe told a House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting, discussing what they spoke about during the first bilateral summit talks since Trump took office on Jan. 20. "I'm hoping that the president will play that role, and I'm ready to cooperate," Abe added. Abe made the request to Trump apparently in response to concerns about his inward-looking stance under his "America first" policy. The prime minister said that he has received inquiries about his talks with Trump from many other world leaders. "I'm willing to convey President Trump's thoughts to countries that have various concerns about him and his U.S. administration, and relay their concerns to the new U.S. president," Abe said, showing his eagerness to serve as a go-between. Abe also said he plans to explain to German Chancellor Angela Merkel what he discussed with Trump when he attends an information technology-related trade show in Germany in March. Elsewhere in the committee meeting, Abe said, "Japan no longer needs to try to confirm the United States' obligation to defend the Senkaku Islands" because it was clarified in a joint statement issued after the two leaders' talks in Washington on Friday. The joint statement said that Article 5 of the Japan-U.S. security treaty, which stipulates the United States' obligation to defend territories under Japan's administration, "covers the Senkaku Islands." The Japanese-controlled East China Sea islands are claimed by China, which calls them Diaoyu. Regarding bilateral trade negotiations which Trump is willing to focus on instead of multilateral trade talks, Abe said, "I received no specific request (from the president) about a possible free trade agreement between Japan and the United State." "We're not fearing a bilateral FTA," Abe said. "It would be good if an FTA is in Japan's national interest, and we won't pursue such a deal if it won't serve our interest." In addition, Abe said he told Trump that he believes currency issues are not something country leaders should argue bitterly about because doing so will rather cause negative effects. Abe added that he proposed leaving currency issues to finance officials. END