Parties Argue Foreign and Domestic Issues

Election of one of two Houses of the Diet is always about yes or no to political handlings of incumbent prime minister. In the Upper House election, the opposition parties cast skepticisms on domestic and foreign policies of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, while the leading coalition defends them. As the United States President, Donald Trump, put Japan under pressure for his tariff policy, the parties concern handling of U.S.-Japan relationship. Political reform is also the major topic in domestic politics. 

Just few days before official announcement of the Upper House election, Trump expressed his frustration with bilateral negotiation between U.S. and Japan on tariffs. “Dear Mr. Japan, here’s the story: You’re going to pay a 25 percent on your cars,” said Trump. He is also complained about small amount of Japan’s import of American rice, in spite of rice shortage in the market.

 

In the debate of Japan National Press Club, the leader of Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), Yoshihiko Noda, asked Ishiba how to settle the bilateral tariff negotiation with the U.S. Ishiba insisted on Japan’s special position in the U.S., arguing that Japan was the biggest investor and the biggest job creator in the U.S. “Success of Nippon Steel’s acquisition of U.S. Steel means they can deliver good products with their technology and U.S. Steel’s labor force. I think it is more about investment than tariff,” said Ishiba. Although Noda recommended another summit talk with Trump as soon as possible, Ishiba did not accept it, just repeated his position to protect national interest of Japan.

 

Trump administration demands Japan to increase defense budget to cover security cost which the U.S. has been owing. The Chairwoman of Japan Communist Party, Tomoko Tamura, argued that swollen military budget would not be compatible with social security policies. While Ishiba dismissed Tamura’s argument as taking security situation around Japan lightly, Tamura accused of Ishiba’s light view on suffering families.

 

On Trump’s reference on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in which he indicated that the U.S. ended the war with atomic bombing, related to ceasefire between Israel and Iran, Ishiba did not accuse Trump. Chief Representative of Komeito, Tetsuo Saito, expressed regret on Trump’s remarks and refused to accept Trump’s idea.

 

 

The greatest reason of major defeat of the Liberal Democratic Party in the Lower House election last October was mismanagement of political fund. Ishiba failed in reaching a consensus with the opposition parties on regulation of donation from companies and organizations. It is likely that the issue affects the voters’ decision in this Upper House election.

 

The opposition parties are not united on this issue. While Japan Innovation Party upholds total ban on the donation, the CDPJ partly allows donation from some organizations. The Democratic Party for the People fundamentally opposes banning the donation. As seen in mismanagement of fielding multiple candidates in a single seat district, the opposition parties may help the LDP with their fragmentation.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Nippon Steel Sues POTUS

Nippon Steel, Japan’s top steelmaker, announced that it   filed a lawsuit   against the President of the United States, Joe Biden, who issued an order to block Nippon Steel’s acquisition of United States Steel (USS), arguing that the president illegally intervened in the deal between those two steelmakers. Nippon Steel also sued Cleveland-Cliffs, the second largest steel producer in U.S., accusing its illegal activities to disrupt the deal. The top manager of Nippon Steel is insistent on finalizing the deal. Nippon Steel announced its acquisition of USS in December 2023 as an agreed deal with USS. United Steelworkers (USW) immediately expressed its opposition to the deal, concerning negative impact on employment. It is undeniable that the steelworkers were crucial voters in the U.S. presidential election in 2024. Both campaigns of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump announced their opposition to acquisition of USS by Nippon Steel.   Although the Committee on Foreign Investment...
Read more

The 2+2 Solidifies Security Cooperation between Japan and the U.S.

The secretaries and ministers for foreign affairs and defense of both Japan and the United States issued  the joint statement after the Security Consultative Committee (2+2) in Tokyo on July 28. The statement focused on enhancing interoperability of both forces, including establishment of new commanding system in each defense organization, procurement of defense equipment and upgrading discussion over extended deterrence. Those measures were introduced to counter recent military progress of China, as well as Russia and North Korea, which may cause further tension between regimes of democracy and authoritarianism in the Indo-Pacific region.   With  the National Defense Strategy in 2022 , Japan decided to establish a permanent Joint Headquarters, which would unify the commands of three self-defense forces (JSDF), to reinforce effectiveness of joint operational posture. Along with those developments of defense organization in Japan, the 2+2 noted U.S. intention to reconstitu...
Read more

Dilemma between Alliance and Constitution

  In the new year ministerial online meeting, Japan and United States resolved to work together to deal with various challenges by China. In the Joint Statement of the Security Consultative Committee, or “2+2,” the ministers of both government, US Secretaries of State and Defense and Japanese Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense, expressed their concerns on Beijing’s efforts, which were recognized as undermining the rule-based order in Indo-Pacific region and the world. On possible countermeasures, however, there still is a possibility of constitutional dispute in Japan over the principle of exclusively defensive security policy. The ministers referred to their concern about China’s activities in the East and the West China Sea. They reaffirmed to apply Article V of US-Japan Treaty of mutual Cooperation and Security to the Senkaku Islands, and strongly objected to China’s unlawful maritime claims, militarization and coercive activities in the South China Sea. They did not forge...
Read more