The state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was held in Tokyo on the afternoon of September 27.
A total of 4,183 people at home and abroad, including delegations from about 200 countries, regions and international institutions, attended the funeral.
Notably, none of the first leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) went to Tokyo for the funeral.
The United States sent Vice President Kamala Harris, a relatively high-level incumbent leader, former presidents and former prime ministers sent by France, Germany, Italy, Britain and other countries.
The United Kingdom sent former Prime Minister Theresa May, France sent former President Nicolas Sarkozy, and Germany was supposed to send the prestigious former Chancellor Angela Merkel to the funeral, but the result was changed to Former President Christian Wulff, who has no real power and sense of presence, attended Abe's state funeral.
Italy sent former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was scheduled to attend Abe's funeral, but two days before his departure, the trip was suddenly cancelled due to internal affairs.
On September 27, in Tokyo, Japan, US Vice President Harrison attended the state funeral of Shinzo Abe.
(AP)
Perhaps this is in line with Abe's political positioning as a former prime minister, but such a specification does not conform to Japan's important position in Western society.
After Biden came to power, he paid special attention to the alliance of Eastern and Western allies. In June 2022, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attended the NATO summit for the first time.
When it comes to the state funeral of an important country like Japan, the leaders sent by major Western countries are obviously too low-spec, and they really don't give Japan any face.
Even if Abe's political reputation is not as good as that of former South African President Nelson Mandela, Japan's important position is definitely stronger than that of South Africa. Why did then US President Barack Obama and then British Prime Minister David Cameron both Can go to South Africa to attend Mandela's funeral, but to Abe's state funeral, the leaders of major Western countries are absent?
This is a direct reflection of the fact that Western countries have not taken Japan seriously or placed it in an important position.
Japan's dream of leaving Asia and joining Europe and joining the Western world has not gained their approval and respect.
For the Queen's funeral, China sent Vice-President Wang Qishan to London, and for Abe's funeral, China sent Wan Gang, Vice-Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
There is no obvious preference for one over the other in terms of specifications.
Behind the difference between Chinese and Western etiquette, the West's contempt for Japan is evident, and China's sincerity in treating Japan with courtesy is clearly visible.
Abe Shinzo State Funeral: The picture shows that on September 27, 2022, Wan Gang, vice chairman of the Chinese National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attended the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.
(AP)
The actions of the United States and Western countries have given China an opportunity to leverage Japan.
I believe that through diplomatic occasions such as Abe's funeral, Japan will be able to see the truth more and more clearly.
The so-called politics is to make few enemies and make many friends.
The arrogance of the United States and the West is the space where China can do something.
China should seize the opportunity to release more goodwill to Japan.
Shaking the resolve of the world's third-largest economy to move toward the West is good for China.
Unlike the absence of official leaders of G7 countries, Asia-Pacific countries generally gave Abe a state funeral.
In addition to China sending the vice chairman of the CPPCC, South Korea sent Prime Minister Han Deok-soo.
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe and other leaders attended Abe's funeral.
Even Australia, located in Oceania, was also attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The current leaders of the Asia-Pacific heavyweight countries went to Japan to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Abe in person, which shows the importance they attach to Japan.
On September 27, Tokyo, Japan, former Japanese Prime Minister (from left) Junichiro Koizumi, Yasuo Fukuda, and Yoshiro Mori attended the state funeral ceremony of Shinzo Abe.
(AP)
This also shows from one side that Japan's influence as the world's third largest economy cannot be underestimated.
Although China, as the world's second largest economy, has four times the total economic output of Japan, behind the courtesy of neighboring countries to Japan is actually the challenge that China's rise has to face.
The rise of China is first and foremost in Asia, and the Asia-Pacific (Indo-Pacific) countries are the first to feel China’s influence. When the regional pattern is quietly changing under the impetus of China, Asian countries need Japan to balance China’s super presence .
Embracing the US, an extraterritorial country, may irritate China. Picking sides between China and the US will not work, but it is wise to form a strong alliance with Japan, a powerful regional country.
China needs to see that behind the moves of Asia-Pacific countries there is a side of China's dominance.
In the Asia-Pacific region, there is not only the game between China and the United States, but also the alliance of regional countries under the shadow of great power struggle.
As the old saying goes, those who are near please those who are far away, emphasizing the importance of the surrounding.
China still has a long way to go to win the support of neighboring countries, especially those in the Asia-Pacific region.
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Photo Series｜The guests of Nippon Budokan are like clouds and the people are protesting against the national funeral of Shinzo Abe. Fumio Kishida delivered a memorial speech to praise his contributions during his tenure