Prime Minister Abe Shinzo had hoped to improve ties with Beijing ever since returning to office in 2012, and finally, as China’s relations with the United States were at their worst in decades, Abe was invited to a summit with President Xi Jinping. The visit was cordial, with both Xi and Abe emphasizing their shared interests and desire for a “fresh start,” but it was not celebratory. It had taken far too long to realize for either leader to be overly optimistic, and the growing uncertainty in Asia’s geopolitics seemed to dampen expectations in both countries.

Read full article at www.theasanforum.org.