Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wasted little time in publicly upbraiding President Obama this week over the recent alleged rape and murder of a woman in Okinawa by a civilian worker on a U.S. military base.
“In the onset of our small group discussion, I have firmly lodged a protest against President Obama as the Japanese Prime minister with regard to the most recent case in Okinawa,” Abe told reporters, referring to his bilateral meeting with Obama and top U.S. officials that had just wrapped up in Shima, Japan.
“I feel profound resentment for this self centered and despicable crime,” Abe said.
The prime minister urged Obama to take to heart the shock and sadness the Japanese people have experienced because of the crime, and ensure that the U.S. government takes steps to make sure it never happens again.
Abe also warned that plans for Japan to pay for some of the costs of transferring military personnel from Okinawa to Guam could be threatened if the U.S. doesn’t do something to quell the rising anti-American sentiment over the Okinawa murder.
“There is a tough and challenging road ahead of us as we seek to regain confident, which was lost in the most recent case,” he said.
Obama tried to address that anger by saying he is “appalled” by a violent crime that may have been committed by an American on the island.
“I extended my sincere condolences and deepest regrets,” he said, noting that the U.S. will continue to cooperate fully with this investigation. “We consider it inexcusable and we are committed to do everything we can to prevent any crime of this sort.”
When it comes to the escalating international tensions over the South China Sea, he said the U.S. is “united” with Japan in trying to maintain freedom of navigation and “international rules and norms.”
The United States’ growing partnership with Vietnam, he said, is 30 years in the making and is happening entirely independent from China, and is based on mutual interest to expand trade and cooperation.
“The fact that China would perceive that as some sort of provocations to them says more about Chinese attitude than about our attitude,” he said.
“We would very much like to see a peaceful resolutions of those disputes,” he added. “It’s entirely within China’s power to resolve these disputes.”
President Obama will make a historic visit to Hiroshima during his trip to Japan this week. Obama told reporters the visit will “honor all those who were lost in WWI and reaffirm our shared vision toward a world without nuclear weapons.”
Vietnam and Hiroshima are both a “a reminder that war involves sufferings and we should always do what we can to prevent it,” he said.
He concluded that he hoped the visit “will create momentum for a world free of nuclear weapons.”
A reporter asked Abe if he had a plan to make a reciprocal trip to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, and he said he no “specific” plan to do so at this time.
