A successful, intensely nationalistic, right-wing politician with an unconventional economic policy, Prime Minister Abe should be a role model of sorts for President Trump. Unfortunately for Abe, his country is almost completely reliant on the US for defense and runs a large trade surplus. In other words, Japan is precisely the kind of nation that Trump hates.
It was with good reason that Abe made the pilgrimage to Trump Tower within days of the election. If the US won’t defend Japan, the Japanese have only two long-term choices: remake their country so it can resist Chinese aggression without help, or enter into a dignified surrender on the best available terms.