US frets over Abe's two 'faces'

This is the assessment that is reportedly whispered among some US government officials.
In their view, the good Abe strives to strengthen the Japan-US alliance by making tough political decisions, such as enabling Japan to exercise its right of collective self-defence.
The bad Abe creates instability in the region by aggravating China and South Korea through actions such as visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, which honours the country’s war dead.
US officials are fretting over which “face” Abe will show in 2015, the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. In August, the prime minister will issue a statement to mark this milestone anniversary.
If Abe backtracks on the statement issued in 1995 by then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, who apologised for Japan’s colonial rule and aggression, or the expression of an apology and remorse over Japan’s use of so-called comfort women during World War II that was contained in a 1993 statement by then chief cabinet secretary Yohei Kono, it could spark an extreme deterioration in Japan’s relations with South Korea and China.
Differences of opinion also could emerge between Japan and the United States.
For these reasons alone, the US government heaved a sigh of relief when Abe spoke about the upcoming statement at his year-opening news conference on January 5.
 “The Abe cabinet entirely upholds the position on the understanding outlined by previous administrations, including the Murayama statement,” Abe said.
Evan Medeiros, senior director for Asia at the US National Security Council, said Abe’s remark provided a “very useful signal”.
However, not all of Washington’s concerns have been allayed. In the United States, Abe is still dogged by the belief that he is a “historical revisionist”, a view also included in a recent report by the US Congressional Research Service.
This is because there is a growing perception that conservative elements with right-leaning ideologies in Abe’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party are supporting the prime minister.
On January 20, noted Japan experts Michael Green, a former senior director for Asia on the US National Security Council, and Kurt Campbell, former US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, visited LDP headquarters.
They spoke with former foreign minister Hirofumi Nakasone, who leads a special committee for regaining Japan’s prestige and trust by considering ways to eliminate misunderstandings in the international community regarding the comfort women issue, and other LDP members. Green and Campbell warned the LDP lawmakers not to dredge up historical issues and to avoid making inflammatory remarks.
Abe is considering visiting the United States during the Golden Week holiday period in May.
On May 9, China plans to participate in a Russian commemorative event celebrating the victory in the war against fascism.
June 22 marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Japan-South Korea Basic Relations Treaty.
It is possible that Beijing and Seoul will crank up their propaganda campaigns on the history-perception issue in May and beyond.
A government source revealed that the timing of Abe’s planned visit to the United States was chosen for a specific reason.
“If the prime minister can confirm the achievements of Tokyo and Washington on the 70th anniversary of the end of the war and come up with shared positions on matters of historical perception, it will prevent the spread of any damage
from criticism by South Korea and China over issues of history,” the source said.