"Businessman Trump, Realist Xi Jinping... Convicted Moon Jae-in"

Publication of Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe's Memoir
Impressions and Evaluations of Korean, American, and Chinese Leaders Draw Attention

A memoir compiling interviews with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his lifetime has been published, drawing international attention to his remarks about world leaders featured in the book.

In the memoir, former Prime Minister Abe described former U.S. President Donald Trump as unconventional and Chinese President Xi Jinping as a realist. He criticized former South Korean President Moon Jae-in as a "deliberate offender" who was aware that the South Korean Supreme Court's ruling on forced labor compensation violated international law.

"Moon Jae-in was a deliberate offender... Knew forced labor ruling violated international law"

Former President Moon Jae-in and former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shake hands at the Shangri-La Hotel in Century City, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, on December 24, 2019 (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

In the memoir, Abe stated, "Moon Jae-in was a deliberate offender," adding, "He used 'anti-Japan' sentiment as a tool to boost his administration, even though he knew the South Korean Supreme Court's decision violated international law." Abe pointed out that Moon, who served as the senior secretary for civil affairs at the Blue House during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, was well aware of the forced labor compensation issue but failed to prepare any countermeasures against the Supreme Court ruling.

Furthermore, Abe wrote that Japan's export restrictions on semiconductor materials to South Korea were implemented "in response to the Moon administration, which offered no solutions after the forced labor compensation ruling," and that "the two issues were linked to make South Korea take the forced labor problem more seriously."

Regarding the 2015 agreement on comfort women victims, Abe said, "South Korea betrayed and failed, and Japan gained a moral upper hand in the international community." This appears to be a self-assessment that international opinion shifted in Japan's favor after the Moon administration annulled the comfort women agreement.

"Trump, fundamentally a businessman"

On May 26, 2019, at a golf course in Mobara City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Tokyo metropolitan area of Japan, then U.S. President Donald Trump met with then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and gave a thumbs-up.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Abe also wrote about former U.S. President Trump in the memoir. He said Trump was perceived internationally as the type to take military action, but in reality, he was not.

Regarding why Trump was reluctant to engage in military action, Abe explained, "Fundamentally a businessman, he calculated diplomacy and security matters based on money," adding, "He was reluctant about joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises and the deployment of U.S. aircraft carriers to the East Sea, saying they cost a huge amount of money."

About his efforts to build a relationship with Trump by playing golf together, Abe explained, "If Japan became a target of (Trump) due to practical issues, the entire country would face difficulties. Creating an environment for dialogue was important."

Regarding former U.S. President Barack Obama, Abe mentioned, "He only talked about things related to Japan," and described him as "the type with whom it was difficult to build a friendly relationship."

"Xi Jinping, a realist"

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is visiting Vietnam to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, and then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shake hands before their meeting on November 11, 2017.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

About President Xi, Abe said, "Xi said, 'If I were born in the U.S., I would not join the Communist Party but rather the Democratic or Republican Party,'" calling him a "strong realist."

On China-Japan relations, he said, "The political skill lies in managing security challenges while turning China's market value into opportunities for Japan economically."

Meanwhile, Abe gave a positive evaluation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom he held 27 meetings during his tenure, describing him as "cold but surprisingly affable."

The memoir was originally scheduled for release early last year but was delayed by a year at the request of Abe's side due to sensitive content. The 480-page memoir contains interviews conducted over about one year from October 2020, after Abe stepped down, totaling 18 sessions and 36 hours with editorial board members of the Yomiuri Shimbun.