Some vital advice for US president

Just two days before US President Barack Obama's visit to Japan on his four-nation tour of Asia, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine, a symbol of Japan's militarist past which honors 14 Class-A war criminals. On Tuesday, 146 Japanese lawmakers visited the shrine again. A couple of days before that, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera attended a ceremony to begin construction of a radar base on Yonaguni Island, just 150 km from China's Diaoyu Islands.

The three moves are the latest in a series of provocative actions taken by Japan that have escalated tensions with its neighbors, especially China and the Republic of Korea, over territorial and historical disputes. Irrespective of whether he chooses to be a neutral mediator eager to ease the tensions or a supporter of Japan, Obama's role will be vital to the stability and political balance in East Asia.

Although US-Japan ties are critical to the strategic structure of the Asia-Pacific region since both countries are powerful in their own ways, Tokyo has been questioning the dominant role of Washington in the relationship by taking frequent actions to prove its importance. For instance, both countries still disagree over tariff and auto safety standards in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, something which Obama has promised to address during his visit to Japan.