The United States and its allies need to make a strategic shift in their Asian strategy, away from their highly militarized mindset and toward thinking about what countries in the region want.

In their quest for absolute security, the two countries are sowing the seeds of disappointment. Because growth is necessary for economic security, any country that uses security as an excuse for trade protectionism will not achieve its desired competitiveness. This only harms innovation.

The United States and Japan are interfering in domestic affairs, and they have formed an ideological alliance in which they believe China must be confronted. The U.S. should reconsider this as it seeks allies among unrepentant Japanese politicians. After sowing the wind, what comes next is the whirlwind.

Japan seems developed and orderly, but that’s only its outward appearance. In truth, it is a vassal of the United States, which has adopted chaos as standard diplomatic theory. Now Japan wants to discharge radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear accident into the sea. Who will say no?

Relying on its extraordinary strength, the United States can apply extreme pressure to chop an integral free trade agreement into several parts and then negotiate advantages in each.

Tensions between the U.S. and China in the lead up to the G20 summit in Osaka was nothing new, but what is new in this decade is the development of a working relationship between the Chinese and Japanese governments.

Pence met with Japanese Prime Minister Abe on his way to the Winter Olympics in S. Korea.

President Donald Trump started his five-nation Asian tour in Japan with hamburgers and wagyu steak, nine holes of golf, and an indirect yet blunt warning to Nor

Japan still sees the US relationship as its diplomatic basis and top priority, especially in maintaining the stability of US-Japan alliance. But in the face of current uncertainties, it also is beginning to seek diversity in foreign affairs as a way to maximize Japan’s interests.

The first month of Trump’s presidency has been a useful primer for Chinese officials, albeit an unpleasant one. China was certainly watching the Trump-Abe meeting for cues on how the new president conducts himself with foreign leaders.