Abe Asia Tour

I guess Abe is worried about Trump's 'America First' policy and Trump's decision to withdraw from Trans-Pacific Partnership that may lead to a scale down of US influence in the South Pacific.

Abe is also worried about the new Philippines-China relationship. In October when Rodrigo Duterte visited China, he announced in public his separation from the US and his realignment with China as the two had agreed to resolve their South China Sea dispute through talks.

With Malaysia abandoning his golfing buddy and going straight into China's arms for many 'reasons'. Abe has no choice but to cement ties with these countries to counter China's rapid military buildup in South China Sea.

But Abe did not include Malaysia in his Asia Tour, why? Think about it. Abe visited Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia but not Malaysia.

Abe knows very well South China Sea is the throat of the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. Statistically more than 50% of the world's annual merchant fleet tonnage passes through this 'throat'.

The oil transported through the Strait of Malacca is triple the amount that passes through the Suez Canal and is fifteen times the amount that passes through the Panama Canal.

Roughly 66% of South Korea's energy supplies, nearly 60% of Japan's and Taiwan's energy supplies and 80% of China crude oil import go through the South China Sea.

In addition to the above, South China Sea itself has proven oil reserves of 130 billion barrels and 900 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Some called the South China Sea "the second Persian Gulf".

During his last week 6-day trip, Abe agreed with the four countries that US commitment is essential for the prosperity, peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region.

As expected Abe promised to provide more newly built patrol vessels to Vietnam and the Philippines 'at their request' to strengthen  security and defence cooperation. So most likely, the Japanese is hoping that under the name of 'defence cooperation' their military vessels can sail into the South China Sea at the request of .............

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