Abe has traveled around the world defaming its neighbor, something rarely seen in international affairs. By playing the victim card and constantly declaring there is a China threat, Japan seeks excuses for its own military development and is trying to gain more economic interests from those countries China has close trade ties with. For instance, Abe has been encouraging some members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to unite against China in the South China Sea territorial disputes, in which Japan is not a stakeholder. And during his trips Abe is always cautioning the international community about "an assertive China".

If Abe and his Cabinet are serious about improving ties with China, their actions serve no one's interests and are certainly not the actions of a responsible administration.

Abe's drama may continue to run for a while, but it is clear his domestic audience is growing tired of it.

It is time for him to write a new script in which his role is to regain the trust of the Japanese public and Japan's neighbors.

The author is a writer with China Daily. wujiao@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 08/06/2014 page8)