When United States President-elect Donald Trump met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in New York last week, many thought Tokyo’s timely move might help ease Asian anxieties. Trump said during his campaign that Asian nations might need to share more of the “burden” of mutual security arrangements. His first meeting with a foreign leader – the sit-down with Abe at Trump Tower in Manhattan on November 17 – didn’t make matters any clearer. All that Abe offered after their 90-minute talk was that he was confident Trump would be a “trustworthy leader”. Just as worrying for Abe is Trump’s promise to abandon the TPP, to which Japan is a signatory and which Abe has vocally endorsed.

Source: The Nation Bangkok November 21, 2016 18:08 UTC