politics

Japanese opposition leader says Abe too close to Trump

9 Comments
By Matthew Pennington

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9 Comments
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Typical "opposition" figure in Japan, wants to criticize the ruling premier/party but offers no compelling alternative policy ideas. As if Abe is the first toad to cozy up to their patrons.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Considering what Trump has done to Japan, I do not get the impression that Abe is "close" to Trump.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

So close but too far!

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No, no, no. Abe LIKES to think he's close to Trump.

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"Trump's protectionist ideas are not something that Japan shares,"

A lot of international businesses would beg to differ.

This idea of Japan being holier than thou on free trade is about as laughable as China, Russia, Europe and the U.S projecting the same nonsense. There all at it.

I doubt we will be having this discussion in a couple decades as protectionism becomes the new norm. Free trade is a nice theory but its not politically sustainable, politically in the age of robotics when employment options could take a real hit.

The future will see a massive trade wall erected between the West and China. That's certain.

People seem to overlook the actions of Europe in recent times. Not altogether different from the U.S.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Typical "opposition" figure in Japan, wants to criticize the ruling premier/party but offers no compelling alternative policy ideas. 

jcapan - that's exactly how the LDP behaved in opposition in 2009-2012.

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jcapan - that's exactly how the LDP behaved in opposition in 2009-2012.

Of course they did, but since no doubt we both loathe the LDP and would like to see some/any party challenge them for power, perhaps coming up with an alternative vision for the nation would be in order. What would you do differently, how is your ideology superior? Many voters and non voters alike are aware of horrible or corrupt the LDP is but for the time being they see no compelling reason to vote/vote differently. Edano may be a step above Koike and Hashimoto before her, fronting alternative conservative factions without different policy ideas. But if this is the best he can do we may as well buckle in for another decade of Abe.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

jcapanToday 12:13 pm JST

Many voters and non voters alike are aware of horrible or corrupt the LDP is but for the time being they see no compelling reason to vote/vote differently.

Often they just don't have a choice. The LDP had 277 candidates in the last Lower House Election, compared to the CDPJ's 63.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

"Yukio Edano"

I remember this guy being on the TV like every day for quite some time after the March 11, 2011 tsunami / Fukushima disaster, and he was like totally not inspiring.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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