Abe trip to Washington a 'big visit'

China has no need to be concerned by the new security pact between Japan and America - at least that's the optimistic view of Tom Schieffer, the former US Ambassador to Tokyo.

Mr Schieffer insists that the region is safer when Japan and the US are working closely together. He also says that people (i.e. the pesky reporters at the White House press conference today) should stop asking Prime Minister Abe to apologise for Japan's actions in WW2.

Mr Schieffer believes Mr Abe is trying to say that Japan has been a model global citizen for the past 70 years and that should count for something.