An analysis of reasons for the Abe administration to advance TPP ratification: in the context of the US withdrawal from TPP

PANG Xinwei¹ TANG Xiaohong¹

(1.International Political Research Center, PLA University of Foreign Languages, Luoyang, Henan, China 471003)

【Abstract】There are several reasons for the Abe administration to advance the National Diet to ratify Trans-Pacific Partnership in the context of plausible failure of Trans-Pacific Partnership because of Trump’ s announcement of the US withdrawal from the agreement, including cherishing the great record, keeping words to interest groups in the financial community, unwilling to give up the momentum of economic reform for helping shot out the third arrow of Abenomics, expecting return of the US and preparing for adopting alternative free trade agreements, such as Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, Trans-Pacific Partnership without the US and bilateral free trade agreements. Abe’s endeavor for saving Trans-Pacific Partnership has laid a solid foundation for extension of his career as Prime Minister.

【Keywords】 Trans-Pacific Partnership; Abe administration; Abenomics; Asia-Pacific economic integration; free trade agreement;

【DOI】

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Footnote

[1]. ① The number of members of Liberal Democratic Party, the largest party in Japan, is 987.2 thousand (as of the end of 2015), and the total number of party members and supporters of the second largest party Democratic Progressive Party is 242.9 thousand (as of June 6, 2016). [^Back]

[2]. ① The US regards India-Pacific region as a strategic whole in its Asia-Pacific rebalancing strategy, adjusting its strategic plan toward China, strengthening political and military connection with India, Australia and other countries, and planning to build a rule-based India-Pacific sea order through multilateralism with small number.^[24] [^Back]

[3]. ① The sentence that “the superior man produces his changes as the leopard (does when he) changes (his spots)” comes from The Book of Changes: “the great man (produces his changes) as the tiger (does when he) changes (his stripes); the superior man produces his changes as the leopard (does when he) changes (his spots), while small men change their faces (and show their obedience).” The sentence in Japanese generally refers to tremendously changes in people’s attitudes, words, deeds, and so on. On November 15, 2016, Abe made a statement to the TPP Special Committee of the House of Councillors that it was a proper gesture for a leader to lose face for the country and people. [^Back]

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