Prime Minister Shinzo Abe returned to Tokyo on July 27 after visiting Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. This was his third visit to Southeast Asia since he returned to power in December. Clearly he is placing great importance on Japan's ties with the region.
Of the three countries he visited this time, Malaysia and the Philippines have territorial disputes with China. There is a strong possibility that China feels that Japan is trying to encircle it diplomatically.
Mr. Abe should strive to avoid alienating China and instead concentrate his efforts on reducing bilateral tensions that have arisen from the sovereignty dispute between China and Japan over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.