Recently, the "Susan Rice problem" has become a constant topic of discussion among Japanese diplomats. But what exactly is so problematic about Rice, who serves as U.S. President Barack Obama's national security adviser?
As one Japanese official said to me, with a sigh: "Right now, Rice is completely preoccupied with the question of the eight-year Obama administration's legacy. The administration is eager to ensure that its foreign policy achievements are not forgotten by history. They don't have much interest in a longer-term strategy, or in the role of the Japan-U.S. alliance within that strategy. This is a real problem for us."
The Obama administration seems to be backing away from the issue of China's reclamation of reefs and construction of bases in the South China Sea, which effectively signifies the militarization of the area, and its refusal to acknowledge the rule of law in the region. This is a perception felt not only in Japan but other Southeast Asian countries.