In my opinion there is nothing neutral about Mrs. Merkels policy towards Russia in particular. She clearly confronted Mr. Putin on human rights several times in the past and as a result both have a very bad relationship. Emblematic for this was an episode when Mr. Putin kept Mrs. Merkel waiting in a room with an empty chair and a dog chained to it (Mrs. Merkels fear of dogs is well known...). It is true that Germany is looking after its national interests in its dealings with Russia and China, but the same can be also be said about France (sale of Mistral carriers) and the UK (calling openly for tough sanctions while doing anything to avoid financial sanctions on Russia that could hit "the city"). The US is in a better position as it doesn't have much trade with Russia , so it is a lot easier for them to ask for sanctions. This symmetrie as constructed by Mrs. Koike between the german/ russian relations and the korean/ chinese relationship is in my opinion far fetched at best.



On China, I actually have a hard time to remember any country doing much on the human rights front. Germany's vice-chancellor Mr. Gabriel tried to get in touch with opposition lawyers during his last stay in China. When was the last time a japanese member of gouvernment tried something similiar?



Also i don't see any weakening of NATO ties, if anything the Crimean crisis did bring Germany and NATO closer together. I appologize in advance but to argue that if Germany had agreed to tougher sanctions against Russia from the beginning could have avoided the annexation of the Crimean is just laughable. Russia clearly would and could not after it took its gamble with the Crimean back off. Also the EU is not only Germany there are many countries with interests in Russia that were unwilling to go much further. E.g. Austria recently did strike an agreement with Russia about investments in Energy.



It is true that the german/ US relationship did suffer from the latest spy scandals. However all german gouvernment officials are stressing how important that relationship is for them. Although this episode might help both sides to refocus on their interests and not on some vague "shared values". It clearly isn't in the german interest to have US moles in sensitive state institutions. Just imagine if german spies would have turned up in the US Congress and the Pentagon in one week...



To sum it up, this japanese perspective is interesting. But nonetheless "The New Neutrality" is a bit too strong relying on the construction of similarities between the german and korean position. Which for one differs in important points (e.g. the koreans have not even a remote alternative to the US, Germany is deeply embedded and committed to the EU). Of course Germany hesitated to support the euro rescue package. Japan would have done the same to ensure it would get the best possible deal and to live up to its responsibilities to its taxpayers. However in the end and that is what most outsiders from Wall Street to Ōtemachi fail to understand is that there was never any doubt in german political mainstream to safe the EURO even at high cost. With this article Mrs. Koike demonstrated that she also didn't understand Germany but she is in the good company of people like George Soros and Paul Krugman who also showed that lack of understanding of german political will.



