Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is waging a relentless public opinion offensive against China.

The just concluded ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit to commemorate the 40th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan relations provided him with the latest stage for his fearmongering.

Yet the joint statement issued on Saturday shows his attempts to cajole ASEAN nations onto his China-bashing bandwagon were abortive, as it was a commitment to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific, with Japan promising a "proactive contribution to peace".