Despite Abe's electoral victory, the result is not an overwhelming mandate for transformative change.

Japan should leverage the G20 summit in Osaka to highlight its leadership, political stability and commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based order.

Unorthodox leadership and policies from Washington have provided Japan opportunities for regional and global leadership.

Diplomacy requires leaders to find ways to enhance and build their relations.

Japan's size, resources, location and track record of promoting and abiding by a rules-based international order gives it a leading role in building a middle power coalition for the Indo-Pacific region.

Without a substantial agreement in Hanoi, we are likely to see Pyongyang retain its nuclear deterrent while it continues its modus operandi of extracting concessions for modest compromises.

If data were petroleum in the artificial intelligence era, then China would be Saudi Arabia.

The Abe administration understands that any sustained economic growth in Japan will necessarily include more, not less, trade and engagement with China.

Abe needs to highlight how Japan can help the U.S. resolve the region's most pressing issues.