Jackson Free Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will seek support for a trans-Pacific trade pact that has divided U.S. lawmakers as he makes the first address by a Japanese leader to a joint meeting of Congress.

Abe will be promoting his staunch support of an even-tighter relationship between former wartime adversaries in both trade and defense as the allies contend with a rising China, and can expect a warm reception Wednesday morning.

But the Japanese leader, who has faced opposition at home to the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, lands in the midst of a bruising battle in Washington over legislation that would give President Barack Obama the authority to negotiate a deal that is a cornerstone of his second-term agenda. In a reversal of politics-as-usual, it's Obama's own Democratic base that opposes him, and Republicans who support the deal.

After an Oval Office meeting with Abe on Tuesday, where the two leaders declared progress in bilateral trade talks that are critical for completing a wider TPP agreement among nations accounting for 40 percent of global GDP, Obama conceded to reporters: "It's never fun passing a trade bill in this town."

Abe, who called for an "early conclusion" of TPP, may play a small part in trying to tip the balance in what is viewed as a strategic push to shape the economic future of Asia-Pacific. His ambassador to Washington, Kenichiro Sasae, told reporters last week that he expected Abe "would appeal to Congress that we need to work together to make this TPP a success."

Since winning election in December 2012, Abe has been strong advocate of closer ties with the U.S., an alliance that emerged from the ashes of World War II, which ended 70 years ago. He's been granted the full pomp and ceremony at the White House, and was being feted Tuesday night with a state dinner.

But it's the invitation to address Congress that sets him apart from his predecessors. While past Japanese prime ministers — including Abe's own grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, in 1957 — have addressed the House, it will be the first time for a leader of the East Asian nation to speak to both chambers.

Another theme of his speech will be security cooperation, which is set to intensify with the revision this week of U.S.-Japan defense guidelines that will allow Japan's military to play a bigger role in global military operations and work more closely with U.S. forces, and possibly come to their defense.

Yet sensitive history still stalks Abe, a nationalist who has been urged by another close U.S. ally, South Korea — and some U.S. lawmakers — to apologize for Japanese conduct during the war, including sexual enslavement of tens of thousands of Asian women by Japan's imperial army.

Abe sidestepped a question on the issue Tuesday. Echoing past comments, Abe said he was "deeply pained" by the suffering of "comfort women." It appeared unlikely he would make a direct apology in Wednesday's speech, which will be watched closely in Seoul and Beijing.