Good afternoon. On his recent visit to the U.S., Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto not only met with President Joe Biden in the White House, he also made a congratulatory phone call to President-elect Donald Trump. Prabowo reportedly told Trump, "Wherever you are, I'm willing to fly to congratulate you personally," joining the growing list of world leaders who have openly expressed a desire to meet with the former U.S. president.
During the late Shinzo Abe's first stint as Japan's prime minister, a major focus was whether he would meet with the Chinese leader, especially against the backdrop of strained bilateral relations. China would often try to take the initiative, setting demanding conditions for coordinating a summit. When Beijing did this, Abe would tell his staff: "Japan doesn't need to meet with them if they don't want to sit down with me. We shouldn't look like we're the ones desperate for the meeting. That would undermine our negotiating position."
But when it comes to the U.S., it's well known that Abe was the one who rushed to New York in 2016 to visit then-President-elect Trump at Trump Tower, marking the beginning of their "bromance" during the American leader's first administration. At the time, Tokyo also worked hard to position Abe as the first world leader to visit Trump at the White House, though it was ultimately Theresa May, then the British prime minister, who won that honor, with Abe following in the No. 2 spot.
As one Japanese diplomat noted, however, May's visit in January 2017 ended up being much like many other business meetings, and didn't include lunch or dinner. By contrast, Abe's first trip to the White House was followed by a flight on Air Force One to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where he spent two nights and played golf with the president.
In this regard, diplomacy -- much like with everyday business dinners and meetings -- is not merely about being the first to shake hands; it's also about the format and setting. While many leaders are trying to follow Abe's playbook, it will be interesting to see how Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba -- Abe's chief rival within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party -- develops a personal relationship with Trump, especially after barely being able to secure a five-minute phone call with the incoming president.
Before moving on to my suggested reads, I have an announcement. Please join us on Nov. 28 for a webinar with Chris Miller, author of "Chip War," and Yeo Han-koo, a former South Korean trade minister, where we will delve into issues surrounding the ever-changing chip industry, including the question of how Trump's return as U.S. president will affect the global chip industry and the tech supply chain. Register here and be sure to submit your questions for the panel.
My suggested reads
1. As Asia awaits the return of Donald Trump to the White House next January, U.S. allies across the region are racing to get up to speed with his incoming "America First" administration picks. Will what they call a new, "common sense" approach to foreign policy mean a pullback from previous security commitments?
2. From niche skin therapy centers to pilates studios, South Korean residents of Vietnam can now find almost anything they want in the Southeast Asian nation's so-called K-Towns. The region's fastest-growing economy has 50% more South Korean residents than the rest of ASEAN combined, and the expatriates have developed a thriving self-sustaining economy in Ho Chi Minh City.
3. Asian financial markets are gripped by a chain of uncertainties brought on by Donald Trump's return to the White House. As of press time, the Republicans had not yet achieved a White House-Senate-House trifecta. But now that the party has clinched a House majority, few obstacles are seen for Trump to execute his campaign pledges, raising concerns across currency, bond and stock markets over how money might travel under his presidency.
4. From playing games to hailing a taxi or booking a salon appointment, there is not much users can't do through online platform Kakao. But can the South Korean tech star regain its shine after the arrest of founder Kim Beom-su?
5. Cats can be found everywhere in Japan -- from folk tales and festivals to TV shows and cafes. Somewhere between a cult and a fad, felines are also in millions of homes, having become respected members of the Japanese family -- often pampered but exerting a benign influence on their owners.
Through the lens
This week's top photo pick: SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son, right, shakes hands with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in Tokyo on Nov. 13. SoftBank is teaming up with Nvidia to create a nationwide artificial intelligence grid by turning its 200,000 base stations into "mini data centers." (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Check out more of our photo coverage here.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Shin Nakayama
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