politics

Japan's foreign policy likely to continue on path set by Abe

28 Comments
By Junko Horiuchi

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28 Comments
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Pragmatism might be a better option rather than digging a hole and refusing to leave it.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

The Prime Minister or his cabinet ministers never fail to bow to the national flag at the start of a press conference. That is really comical. The national flag is not a god or reincarnation of something holy and sacred. 

It reminds me of pre-war days in Taiwan when we school children were called upon to the principal's office on special national holidays, such as the Emperor's birthday, and required to bow to the Emperor and Empress' pictures displayed on the wall of open-curtained alter.

It may be no big deal, though. U.S. President Donald Trump also demonstrated the same histrionics by hugging and kissing the Stars and Stripes at his recent press conference.

11 ( +18 / -7 )

Longest continuous serving PM and what is there to show? Whoever is chosen to be the next PM had better get the domestic issues under control or there won't be a need for foreign policy because Japan will only become one big geriatric ward.

11 ( +14 / -3 )

As if anything is going to change (for the better) with a new mask

9 ( +10 / -1 )

have raised global recognition of Japan even though many of its goals remain unachieved, according to some pundits.

Many suggests that some have been achieved, and personally speaking here, I would love to know which one's!

As I see it, NONE of his goals were achieved!

9 ( +14 / -5 )

It's called Patriotism.

No, it's being a Nationalist, it's different.

As defined elsewhere: Nationalism is the love and affection one feels for his country. However, nationalism is rooted in the belief that one's country is superior to all others, and carries the connotation of disapproval of other nations or a rivalry with other nations. While patriotism does not disparage other countries, nationalism builds up one's own country by tearing other countries down.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Japan policy is at the mercy of the US, that will be set by Biden

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Whoever wins the next election will only serve out the remaining term of Abe. He ( and it is most likely he) will be booted out at the end of Abe's term for a new leader.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

So, the current generation and the next has got more impoverishment and scrimping to look forward to?

Someone is not helping out and those people are ensconced in the gikai in Tokyo...

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Wouldn’t foreign policies also include the changing of the constitution?

Abe’s term of nearly a decade has achieved nothing except increase the public debt, increase sales tax, give corporations tax cuts, salaries and bonuses reduced and zero inflation in a flailing economy. Now, Japan can expect more of the same from his successor. How bloody wonderful for Japan!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Orac: Aug. 31 | 08:26 am JST,

Not really, he is showing his love and respect for Japan

8T: Aug. 31 | 09:30 am JST,

It's called Patriotism.

Can both of you tell the difference between patriotism and nationalism, or patriotism and chauvinism? Japan's pre-war Emperor worship, enthralling the people to believe the Emperor as a demi-god, was politically motivated and instigated by the powers that be comprised mostly of fanatic patriots or chauvinists.

The last war was fought in the name of the Emperor, so that it was a holy, sublime war for the nation. Many of today’s conservative politicians in Japan, or right wingers, are ideological descendants of these fanatic patriots and nationalists.

Is a nation's patriotism always good for the nation or for other nations?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

"It reminds me of pre-war days in Taiwan when we school children . . ."

Impressive. Not many 90 year olds can use the Internet.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Japan's foreign policy likely to continue on path set by Abe

Nothing we didn't already know.

Nothing will change, except taxes going up while relationships with neighbors go down. Either way, it will be the poor and middle class that pay for the outcomes while the rich profit from it. And all the while not a peep to be heard from voters (that don't vote).

This is Japan!

4 ( +9 / -5 )

After Abe's orange foreign policy, Suga & Co will color it LDP brown again.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

more of the same 'old' then.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Japan policy is at the mercy of the US, that will be set by Biden

Half a century in DC and people think he can fix everything? People cannot be that stupid.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The Prime Minister or his cabinet ministers never fail to bow to the national flag at the start of a press conference. That is really comical. Not really, he is showing his love and respect for Japan .

Just like some guy who kisses the flag before giving a speech? Right....

3 ( +4 / -1 )

These are very worrying times.

Even the best case scenario looks bleak.

If the Lib Dems want continued support they'll have to choose someone fairly charismatic like Ishiba. Don't know much about Suga, but can you see him dealing with the likes of Trump, Xi and Putin?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

This scam exists purely to make Communist China even richer than it is, whilst bankrupting every other nation involved. Once bankrupted, Communist China will simply repossess parts of the other nations eg. Ports, airports, hospitals and huge amounts of land, thus expanding her empire.

That is why Capitalist China will be number one economy in the world. Suga should piggyback on China’s massive success and get Japan back to number two spot.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Let's see. One candidate believes in UFOs and wants to prepare to stave off an invasion of Aliens from outer space. One advocates a preemptive strike against North Korea. Another advocates the building of coal fired power plants. Most advocate trashing Article 9 of the constitution. All but one are functionally extreme right wing candidates. One candidate accused peaceful protestors in opposition to the Secrecy Bill terrorists. Another wants to create a Japanese equivalent of the US Marines. One urges Japan to create and maintain an ability to create nuclear weapons. Quite a collection of candidates for the third decade of the 21st century. Not one is progressive, all are conservative, in the worst sense of the word.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

When Suga is boss he better befriend China and join China’s Belt and Road project. It is the only hope Japan has to recover. It would give Japan access to 60% of world trade.

@ Goodlucktoyou - Thats madness only the Japanese Communists would join. Every nation that signed up for this scam is regretting it. This scam exists purely to make Communist China even richer than it is, whilst bankrupting every other nation involved. Once bankrupted, Communist China will simply repossess parts of the other nations eg. Ports, airports, hospitals and huge amounts of land, thus expanding her empire.

Say NO to any trade or relations with Communist China. Kono Taro for PM!

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

AgentXToday  07:57 am JST

Japan's foreign policy likely to continue on path set by Abe

Nothing we didn't already know.

Nothing will change, except taxes going up while relationships with neighbors go down.

Only South Korea, as long as the Moon administration is in power, or the next one continues to use Anti-JP sentiment as a political tool. Right now even China is not so Anti-JP even while playing territorial games with every country.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

When Suga is boss he better befriend China and join China’s Belt and Road project. It is the only hope Japan has to recover. It would give Japan access to 60% of world trade.

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

"In the last LDP leadership election in 2018, Ishiba, while agreeing on the need to uphold the bilateral security alliance, questioned Abe's "golf" diplomacy with Trump, saying, "Japan needs to stand up to the United States when it needs to. Japan should not accept what is not in its interest."

Well, he sounds like the successor Japan needs, the world doesn't want too many important nations sucking up to Trump (or any other powerful nation come to that).

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

It may be no big deal, though. U.S. President Donald Trump also demonstrated the same histrionics by hugging and kissing the Stars and Stripes at his recent press conference.

It's called Patriotism.

-7 ( +6 / -13 )

The Prime Minister or his cabinet ministers never fail to bow to the national flag at the start of a press conference. That is really comical.

Not really, he is showing his love and respect for Japan .

-12 ( +3 / -15 )

Whoever succeeds Abe, never acquiesce to the South Korean and Chinese governments (especially South Korea). Stand firm.

-19 ( +6 / -25 )

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