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© 2015 AFPAbe faces backlash over security legislation; cabinet support rate falls
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© 2015 AFP
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zones2surf
The top 3 issues for the Japanese people are: the economy, the economy and the economy. I say that because Abe and the LDP are in power because the people believe that the LDP is better equipped to deal with the economic challenges facing Japan. A belief not helped by the opposition's complete ineptitude on this front.
Therefore, while a large percentage of people may be upset about the security bills rammed through and may have a more negative view of the LDP and of Abe as a result, in the end, they care most about the economy at this point.
So, if Abe is able to truly address the issues related to the economy, then the voters may continue to support him and the LDP even if they don't care for what he did in the relation to the security bill.
Conversely, until the opposition is able to come up with a credible plan and platform to address Japan's current economic situation and a candidate for PM that inspires the people, it will be difficult for them to win a majority.
Just the reality, In my opinion.
Alphaape
Can't blame this all on Abe and the LDP. It took some opposition votes to get this through. I can respect a party opposing this, but when you have people in the opposition party, who will vote for it only after they are given certain political favors, then I think that is the biggest question that is facing Japanese (and all) politics. I would rather know that the person I elected to represent me is standing on principle and not voting for it, rather than someone who plays the part of opposition only to get some gain from it.
Vote them all out I say.
Wc626
What's done is done.
Sounds like an uphill battle. Good luck with that.
Disillusioned
The way this bill was pushed through with only a small percentage of support 'was' illegal before Abe changed the law to allow him to push it through without full party support and a referendum. It's pretty hard to break the law when you make them to suit yourself, right? Any legal challenges will be squashed because he made it legal before he did it.
darnname
Constitutional legal challenges are a waste of time. Japan is a parliamentary democracy where votes change the people who vote for laws.
Moonraker
No tangible damage to anyone from the legislation itself? How about the possibility of arbitrary rule by decree now the constitution is trashed? Or anarchy since the rule of law has also been trashed?
Alphaape
There are a lot of other countries that have standing armies and they don't go to war at the drop of a hat. New Zealand has a military, and they didn't join the US in the wars in the ME. So does Argentina, who did go to war with GB over the Falklands but since then has not used their military against any other country in South America or added to the US coalition in the ME.
My point is, when nations go to war for the most part the people want to go to war thinking that the win will somehow give them more status on the international scene, or to recover an area what they feel is their nations birthright. Japan wants to change it's constitution, so what. Do you mean to tell me that the average Joe Tanaka in the street is ready to go back and reclaim The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (大東亞共榮圏 Dai-tō-a Kyōeiken) , from WW2? I don't think so, all they seem to be worried about is the newest iphone to come out or which animae character looks the cutest to be concerned with trying to exert influence outside of Japan.
Having an army that will be ready to defend itself will not bring enemies to your door. Many nations have them, and many will defend themselves and are not afraid to let the world know that they will. I just don't get what the fuss is about.
SenseNotSoCommon
People are worried that the next Blair will be Japanese: standing shoulder-to-shoulder with self-serving, war-mongering charlatans.
Tony W.
It's rather surprising that South Korea should protest, wouldn't they need allies against the North if push should ever come to shove? They wouldn't get any help from China. Time to let bygones be bygones; Britain and Germany have been friends for decades despite WW II., South Korea and Japan should do the same.
YuriOtani
The Self Defense Force can protect Japan from aggression. Allowing our armed forces to fight outside of Japan makes them a threat to the peace.
Jumin Rhee
darnname:
Japan is a parliamentary democracy, like the UK and Germany, but has judicial review like the US and Germany.
kazetsukai
The manner in which it was passed is definitely a questionable one. However this article is definitely relating the situation as if it was a terrorist act, showing a "slant" detrimental to not only Japan but other nations that have a feeling toward national security.
Nationalism is NOT necessarily "bad" or "unethical" or "immoral" or even "evil".
Society is held together with some degree of "national pride" which is a key aspect and character of nationalism. Internationalism is NOT something that "negates" or is "opposed" to nationalism. It is with strong sense of nationalism that allows people to get together internationally. In this current state of world affairs, nationalism is still a necessary trait.
Until such time as man realizes in mind and in heart and embrace in practice that we are indeed one mankind on this tiny planet, facing the entire Universe, the building blocks will continue to be nationalism slowly melting into internationalism and then Earth people called humanity.
Dukeleto
Japan cannot afford an Army! They also cannot afford the cost of government spending under Abenomics. According to the CIA world fact book website the number one ranked country for Public Debt defined as "Public debt compares the cumulative total of all government borrowings less repayments that are denominated in a country's home currency. Public debt should not be confused with external debt."
Japan is No.1 on the list.
A link to the page is at the bottom of my post.
What is really interesting for me is the no.2 ranked country...Zimbabwe! A country that has shown what a tyrannical leader can do to it and it's people in a little over 3 decades of despotic rule. A country that no longer has its own currency after infamously holding the title to being the country that produced the single highest circulating denominated banknote. 100 trillion dollars...yes that's 100 with 12 zeros after it: 100 000 000 000 000. By the way, the third on the list is Greece which should add some more perspective as to how bad is to be in the no.1 on this list.
My question is simple, how can a first world country like Japan with the worlds third largest economy be ahead of a completely failed African country and a floundering EU member country and still be doing what it is doing? Why has Japan not focused on making the public sector more streamlined efficient and cost effective. Begun the process of cutting back public spending to pay off the massive debt before a collapse ensures this occurs? Yup you guessed it. Because it's easier to spend and create more debt and create an Army when Japan simply cannot afford one! No politician who has a limited tenure wants to make the tough decisions which is the Achilles heel of this version of democracy.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2186rank.html
browny1
Alpha - interesting comments. A few points.
NZ & Argentina don't to my knowledge have extensive US military bases on their soil. It's the full time presence of the world's most sophisticted military in japan that changes the equation - regardless of your thinking.
"Japan wants to change it's constitution, so what." you said. Well, problem is there are legal protocols (laws) to follow in order to change the constitution. These are set in place so serious debate / referendum / analysis can take place before a change is approved by a 66% majority. Abe did not follow the law - simply by-passed it by interpreting it in his own vision.
And re a nation having an army to defend itself. Yes you are right many countries do. BIG point is - Japan already has a military created for exactly that - to defend itself. It's called the "Self Defence Force". It's in the top 8 or so military forces in the world and is certainly greater in size than Britains.
All this fuss you ask about can simply be answered by - "What is Abe's intent?" Self glory, USA smooching, Industrial military complex pleasing, right wing back rubbing, appeasing the soul of grandfather PM Kishi by finishing his military "work"..........? Only he knows but we can all have an educated guess.
smithinjapan
kazetsukai: "Nationalism is NOT necessarily "bad" or "unethical" or "immoral" or even "evil"."
Wrong. Nationalism is ALWAYS bad -- except to other radicals. Patriotism, on the other hand, is not at all a bad thing. The two are not the same, and Abe and Co. are most certainly not patriots but nationalists.
nedinjapan
It is Japan's responsibility to send troops to fight alongside American soldiers when US soldiers are here on Japanese bases to protect Japanese from threats. Abe has to act on his responsibilities towards their most important ally, supporter and partner.
Peeping_Tom
Dukeleto
Learn the difference between "public debt" and "external debt".
Herein lays the answer to your question.
Japan can afford an army; that's why they're building one!!!
toshiko
Do you know there were people who wanted to trash McArther Constitution and create by Japanese in past? Also they preferred Japan create own military force, That was around AnPo demo time. I have feeling Abe studied Japanese post war political history in detail to behave like now.
gokai_wo_maneku
Abe, how about getting back to enacting Abenomics instead of your granddad's collective defence policy. Yes, if you remember, inacting collective defence was one of his A class war criminal granddad's main policy objectives. Well, as they say, like granddad like grandson. Or the rotten apple does not fall from the rotten apple tree.
Dukeleto
Peeping_Tom
Perhaps you should learn the difference between debt and credit first.
And no, they, cannot afford one!
shallots
@kazetsukai
Ethnic nationalism is the worst modern invention. It's a tossup which has more of a corrosive effect on the world: nationalism or religion. Nationalism is a modern delusion and an evil, in my view.
What?????? I had no idea. Well, what's the point of having a constitution then?
Ali Khan
in democracy when you lose support of the people you are no longer a prime minister,though you can stay for you have a strong support of the Americans.
nath
@gokai
Demonstrably false. There was no such war crime conviction or even an indictment regarding Kishi. Supporting links regarding your allegations please. In fact, Nobusuke Kishi was awarded the United Nations Peace Medal.
Kabukilover
Abe doesn't get it. Nor does the LDP. Nor do the apologist professors. The Japanese people are mad as hell about the so-called security laws and the dubious ways they were passed. This is not simply going to fade away, no matter how much NHK might hide the facts from us.
While the people in this country worry about the economy they are also worried about the possibility of Japan being hooked into a war. That fact is under your nose.
A Professor Mikitaka Masuyama says Abe may be able to "ride the storm" if he manages to improve the economy. Two things. First, what we are witnessing is not a "storm" but a fundamental shift in the national conscience. Second thing is that if Abe achieves any improvements in the economy, if the history of Abenomics is any guide, it will be incremental. It will not be a fairy godmother swish of the wand that suddenly makes everyone euphorically happy.
So far, Abe's economic policies have helped exporters through printing money to lower the international value of the yen. This has been at the expense of importers, and, therefore detrimental to consumers. Then Abe raised the consumption tax to make things worse for us.
The mere chance of the passage of the security bills has caused both record resignations from the SDF and a drop in recruitment, as was reported in JT. This means a less effective SDF for dealing with natural disasters.
The so-called security bills have further alienated Japan's neighbors. You can dismiss North Korea. Maybe you can even dismiss China (though I think that is folly). But you cannot dismiss South Korea. So much for national security.
Only the U.S. is happy with Abe. This is not surprising as the U.S. is the world's chief warmonger. They need all the military help they can get. ("Collective self-defence" is weasle-wording.) A side note: Every U.S. administration, liberal or conservative, has favored the LDP. The Obama administration snubbed Hatoyama when he was PM.
While on this subject, let us dispose of one myth, that the purpose of the U.S. military presence here is do Japan a favor. The U.S. military is not a charitable service like Good Will. It is here because of U.S. interests. If that were suddenly not the case, the military would be gone faster than you can say Taiwan.
The so-called security bills have only creased insecurity. They will continue to do so as long as they exist and as long as the LDP remains in power.
mr_jgb
The USA is making use of Japan for its military ambitions. Japanese people may pay with their lives with the new security laws.
Why commit young Japanese soldier lives to a foreign ambition, even if it is a supposed ally? Is this wise?
If Japan military is purely defensive, wouldn't any aggression from any country on Japan bring about a valid defence from within and also firm, cooperative and solid condemnation from the world on the aggressor?
The pacifist Constitution was a major blessing and an advantage for Japan in past 70 years. Why foolishly throw away this benefit?
Peeping_Tom
Dukelleto I even know how to read a P&L Account. Ain't I fantastic? If we were to judge a country's worth by your list the most worthy ones would be 3rd world toillets. And while you bark "they can't afford it"Japain keeps on building up, and acquiring more public debt. All to show to you they CAN.
Meiyouwenti
Abe's economic policy has been failing miserably and now it's obvious he cannot bolster the faltering economy. But with incomeptent and inept opposition parties fighting against one another, Abe's rule is likely to continue for a long time to come.
smithinjapan
Kabukilover: "The so-called security bills have only creased insecurity. They will continue to do so as long as they exist and as long as the LDP remains in power."
Somebody gets it! Of course, as a 'dissenter' people will just tell you, if they even bother listening at all, that "you don't understand, but if you did you would agree", then plug their ears so they don't have to hear the truth any more.
Yubaru
Amazing that still over 1/3 of the people approve of him and his cabinet. I wonder just who they interviewed.
Yes you can, and the opposition only got on board because of arm twisting from Abe. He did not need their votes, he just wanted to make it look good.
careing
It appears the Japanese people have no say in their government, the young people never took interest in voting now they see how they could be drafted if the government goes to war and they now seem interested. Oh how cowards they are in their little bubble.
nigelboy
It's useless. People here will still post this nonsense despite countless posts like yours.
Although Kishi resigned after the U.S. Security Agreement was ratified, LDP under the Ikeda Cabinet soon gained more seats with the election the following November.
60年安保の真っただ中、当時の岸信介首相と対峙し、デモを主導した元全学連のリーダーは、昭和62年に岸元首相が亡くなった際、次のような弔文を書いて、その死を悼んだという。
「あなたは正しかった」
A former student coalition leader who organized the demonstration in 1960' on the day of Kishi's death wrote the following.
"You were right".
http://blogos.com/article/132765/
ThePBot
What ever did happen to Abenomics? Do you guys remember all that hype years ago? The funny thing is, these new security laws may help worsen the economy. It's a waiting game.
Alphaape
How is this going to be a threat to world peace? Does Japan have intentions of waging war and gaining land for natural resources again? Or simply does it tell potential bad states that Japan will not just sit by and wait for you to attack first. There is a long road to go down before a nation just overnight attacks another. Lest we forget, people keep wanting the USA to run things trough the UN, and that organization is still going to be here.
SenseNotSoCommon
and we've taken our first steps down it
like Colin Powell did?
YuriOtani
Alphaape the fact that Japan has the ability to attack first may provoke an attack. Japan must NEVER attack another country again!