A different approach needed

Economic growth is at the core of any country's national interests. Economic relations and trade between China, the US and Japan link the three countries closely together and the level of interdependence means that they share the good times and the bad times. A commitment to promoting trilateral economic cooperation and trade will be the key to a successful ambassadorship for Kennedy.

Kennedy is also expected to criticize the growing rightist tendency in Japan. She will arrive in Tokyo at a sensitive moment, when Shinzo Abe's administration is getting ready to challenge the post-World War II institutional arrangements. In his speech to mark the 68th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II on 15 August, Prime Minister Abe issued no apology for the great sufferings Japan inflicted on Asian peoples. And he did not make the same vow as the one he made during his first stint as Prime Minister, that Japan would never go to war again. While Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso has talked about learning from Nazi Germany's model of changing Japan's peace constitution. The right-wingers' horrifying attitude is "the only mistake Japan made during World War II was to lose the war". This has naturally outraged China, South Korea and Southeast Asian countries and surely cannot be accepted by the US, which fought a bloody war against the Japanese fascists. Kennedy should be aware that bashing the belligerent right wing and steering Japan back to the path of rationality is in the best interests, not only of Japan, but also of the region and the US.

Kennedy has been away from politics for many years. And this time she has on her shoulders the responsibility of serving her country. Chinese people expect much from her, but in meeting their expectations, she will be hailed as greater than her grandfather Joseph and add another chapter of glory to the Kennedy family.

The author is an associate researcher of Institute of Japanese Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.www.chinausfocus.com