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Kishida pushes rule of law in U.S.-led democracy summit

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pledged that his administration will plan to spend up to $690 million in new funding to promote democracy and help combat corruption around the world.

Democracy and corruption, how much of those money will be allocated to Japan that really need that too.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/05/04/national/press-freedom-index-japan-fall/

-10 ( +11 / -21 )

What a Joke! Since when has the US followed the rule of law? The US follows it's own rules then cry foul when other countries do the same!

2 ( +21 / -19 )

Haters gonna hate, but the Russia-China axis has nothing to teach the world about political systems except what not to do.

6 ( +15 / -9 )

"I renewed my conviction that we humankind must position the rule of law as a norm that our society should follow."

Fumio Kishida, well-compensated Prime Minister in Charge of Empty Homilies.

Biden later pledged that his administration will plan to spend up to $690 million in new funding to promote democracy and help combat corruption around the world.

Yet the corruption in the US, Japan and also in Russia well-documented in the Panama and Pandora Papers among the oligarchic well-connected is conveniently ignored...

3 ( +11 / -8 )

Rule of Law is import inside Japan too!!

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

"Rule of law?" Did he actually state this with a straight face?

3 ( +16 / -13 )

"Rule of law?" Did he actually state this with a straight face?

March 19th was the anniversary of the 2003 illegal USUK invasion of Iraq which has killed an estimated 2,400,000 people and also the Obama-led NATO invasion of Libya which has killed somewhere between 150,000 and 360,000 people. Both countries are in ruins.

Clearly Kishida and the other stooges have some problems with their memories.

7 ( +16 / -9 )

“The Rule of Law”

?

What is Kishida talking about?

When people are in prolonged detention in Japan and police interrogations are not recorded?

Is that the ‘law’ Kishida is talking about?

How about when immigration detainees die alone covered in vomit and excreta from being ill?

Is that the ‘law’ Kishida is talking about?

How about the bribery and corruption of government officials and politicians and the complete absence of any punishment?

Is that the ‘law’ Kishida is talking about?

There are a myriad other examples but the obvious is that Kishida just another mealy mouthed talking head with a penchant for environmental destruction…

-4 ( +13 / -17 )

Liberty, Equality and Justice For All,are the bedrock for rule of law,not a half butt speech

3 ( +8 / -5 )

The more I hear it and think about it, the more questions about it arise. What should that be, this ominous rule of law? First of all, can someone explain it? So far, all jurisdictions are nationally installed, then there are some international meetings and agreements about those different jurisdictions to make them comparable or more unified, but that’s neither voted about in every nation for getting a majority agreement by the people, nor has it near any majority of all countries worldwide. EU legislation is a known example for such a process, but even that is far from being perfect and has a lot of frictions with the different national legislations. That’s all somehow a theoretical or phantasy product and more something to be expected working properly never or only in a very far away future.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Politics 101 teaches that the genus of homo politicus does not do irony or humor, but does do hypocrisy. Kishida's speechifying is a textbook example of an empty suit riffing on empty rhetoric that contains just a grain of truth to satisfy a platitude.

March 19th was the anniversary of the 2003 illegal USUK invasion of Iraq which has killed an estimated 2,400,000 people and also the Obama-led NATO invasion of Libya which has killed somewhere between 150,000 and 360,000 people. Both countries are in ruins.

Bingo! And today there is a worse war still raging under the radar of the MSM and overlooked by the myopic eyes of our leaders: that stinking elephant in the room is Yemen where the carnage and suffering of millions can be positively laid on the lap of the profit-earning Western powers who won't mention that war.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Reclining on my chair, I chose to laugh.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

In his remarks at the summit, Kishida also criticized North Korea for its abductions of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s, describing the long-standing issue as a universal problem that violated "basic human rights.

Go back another 40 years Kishida san to the rule of the Imperial Japanese Army and their rape, pillaging, murder and torture of civilians.

And US led democracy?

Regime change and false evidence?

Osama Bin Laden murdered instead of a trial?

Non existence of any proof for invading Iraq-WMDs a fantasia!

Innocent Afghanis murdered for riding their motorcycles!

The carpet bombing of Pyongyang

Chemical warfare in Cambodia and Vietnam

Etc!

Doesn’t Kishida know his history?

There’s no moral ground for Kishida anywhere…

0 ( +14 / -14 )

Ukraine is not a democracy. Democracies do not jail political opponents of leaders or shut down media criticizing government. Both of which Ukraine has done.

Russia is not a democracy either, because it does the same thing.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

March 19th was the anniversary of the 2003 illegal USUK invasion of Iraq which has killed an estimated 2,400,000 people and also the Obama-led NATO invasion of Libya which has killed somewhere between 150,000 and 360,000 people. Both countries are in ruins.

Clearly Kishida and the other stooges have some problems with their memories.

February 24th was the anniversary of the 2022 illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine which has killed tens of thousands of people (btw, lol at your figure). Ukraine is now in ruins.

Cleary you practice selective outrage.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

The carpet bombing of Pyongyang 

Chemical warfare in Cambodia and Vietnam

Well if we are going back decades, Eastern Europe and Afghanistan would like to speak to your saintly Russia. That's on top of Georgia and Chechnya.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

There's more than one type of democracy by the way !

Yeah, China is a lol democracy.

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

Having lived in Beijing for a year, I can attest that China is a scary place. The fear that the police (公安) could arrest you at any time for any reason - or none at all - was palatable.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Kishida is simply paying lip service to the powers that be.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Rule of Law - - - YEAH!!!

We need more of that around here!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Dance little puppet, dance! And when the time comes, your vassal state will be sacrificed like a pawn on a chessboard...

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

What does this mean? Rule of law in the US means the judicial system decides disputes. It doesn't mean that everyone is bound by the text of the law. Judges are allowed to decide as they see fit, based on their interpretation of case law. Statues do not bind the judiciary, and the only sanction is that a decision could be overturned on appeal. And there is no appealing the US Supreme Court. The only check on the judiciary is that there has to be a dispute or case for judges to wield their power.

US rule of law does not mean everyone follows the same rules which are determined by a fairly-elected legislature in an inclusive and open proceeding.

I think that is what Kishida means though, that everyone should follow the same rules that have been decided in advance in a fair and democratic way.

He should not use the loaded words "rule of law." I don't think he knows what it means precisely.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Yes, American law is international law and she is an exception known as exceptionalism. Good for you, Mr.Kishida, a very faithful good dog !

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

This is nothing new.

The US and its allies (such as, right now, Japan) have been always using buzzwords like "democracy" and, more recently, "rule of law" or "rule-based order" to promote mostly exactly the opposite of that.

Obviously, many of us see through this kind of double speak, but way too many don't, making it just efficient enough for people like Kishida, or whoever is in the hot chair that month, to gain enough public support for pretty much anything.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

What does this mean? Rule of law in the US means the judicial system decides disputes. It doesn't mean that everyone is bound by the text of the law. Judges are allowed to decide as they see fit, based on their interpretation of case law. Statues do not bind the judiciary, and the only sanction is that a decision could be overturned on appeal. And there is no appealing the US Supreme Court. The only check on the judiciary is that there has to be a dispute or case for judges to wield their power.

You do know that we have jury trials right? We go to great expense and annoyance to make sure that people can argue their case and laws absolutely bind everybody.

US rule of law does not mean everyone follows the same rules which are determined by a fairly-elected legislature in an inclusive and open proceeding. 

It literally does mean that. Show me where it is done better.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

The US and its allies (such as, right now, Japan) have been always using buzzwords like "democracy" and, more recently, "rule of law" or "rule-based order" to promote mostly exactly the opposite of that.

Democracy does exist and Russia and China ain't it.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Democracy does exist and Russia and China ain't it.

Nor is the US with its oligarchical system and Japan with its one party rule and plummeting freedom of speech.

Japan blatantly disregards international law when it comes to foreign citizens, has an abysmal record on gender equality. US has, unlike China, been bombing countries and toppling their democratically elected governments in the global south for decades.

But no social issues or things like freedom of press matter if we can rile everyone up against a common threat from the outside.

-5 ( +7 / -12 )

US military personnel in Japan have exemption over the judicial system of Japan if they violated the local law. And the supreme leader of Japan is promoting this kind of "Exceptional Justice" at around the world. Irony for them but he doesn't mind when America comes first!

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

But no social issues or things like freedom of press matter if we can rile everyone up against a common threat from the outside.

I'm glad you brought it up. American freedom of the press is 1000x better than that of Russia and China.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

TaiwanisnotChina.

It is OK to disagree, as long as you feel comfortable walking around in a major US city downtown at night, alone and unarmed. Go for it.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

@TaiwanISChina:

I am glad to remind you that.American law enforcement agency was 1000times murderous worst than the Russian and Chinese police. George Floyd's death was tip of an iceberg and daily happened.

With a justice standard like that and implying to the world order is the cause of world wide chaos: Iraq, Afghan,Syria,Libya etc.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Awa no GaijinToday  09:10 am JST

Haters gonna hate, but the Russia-China axis has nothing to teach the world about political systems except what not to do.

Furthermore the Axis and allies have taken turns in committing atrocities.

Or don't ya know China was an allie and Japan Axis before.

Don't you know that China (PRC) didn't even exist until 4 years after WWII ended? It has never been an ally.

The ally of WWII was the Republic of China, also known as Taiwan.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

I saw with my own eyes evidence of Russia's aggression and heard directly from those who had experienced atrocities," Kishida said. "I renewed my conviction that we humankind must position the rule of law as a norm that our society should follow

KISHIDA propaganda begins...

-5 ( +7 / -12 )

Kishida pushes US led rule of law - some democracy ‘init?

1 ( +7 / -6 )

I am glad to remind you that.American law enforcement agency was 1000times murderous worst than the Russian and Chinese police. George Floyd's death was tip of an iceberg and daily happened.

If you can just push people out of windows or have mysterious health problems take them out in prison, yeah, you could have a low death rate on the street as well.

With a justice standard like that and implying to the world order is the cause of world wide chaos: Iraq, Afghan,Syria,Libya etc.

Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, Ukraine.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

what law?

law aka US interests?

got it Fumio...

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

elephant200Today  12:01 pm JST

US military personnel in Japan have exemption over the judicial system of Japan if they violated the local law. 

Incorrect. Only wthin US bases. Outside the bases Japanese law and jurisdiction applies.

The only exemption applies to Visas and Passports for servicemen. And this does not extend to their famiies.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

combat corruption around the world

Biden keep repeating the same phrase. "Combat corruption around the world." "Challenge border claim around the world." In other world, just being aggressive (choose your word: combat, provoke, challenge) in general around the world. What gives US this right? Does the world belong US?

abductions of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s

Oh, Japan, who was blacklisted for noncompliance with the Hague Convention on cross-border parental child abduction until 2019, is bringing up this issue from the 70's and 80's?

Kishida pushes rule of law

Japan, who violated provisions of the Treaty of Versailles, and other international agreements signed by Japan, such as the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907.

China and Russia were not invited

Let's make China an exception... again... Hirohito personally ratified, on 5 August 1937, to remove the constraint of the Hague conventions, on the treatment of Chinese prisoners.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

I'm glad you brought it up. American freedom of the press is 1000x better than that of Russia and China.

This is not a binary. Not everybody who criticises the US needs to side with China or Russia. You're the one who keeps bringing up the worst possible examples that also happen to compete with the US and its allies on the international stage.

In terms of freedom of press, Japan was 9th in 2009 and is 71st now (PFI 64.72). The US have a press freedom index of 72.24, landing it in 42nd place just behind Burkina Faso.

Russia has an index of 38.82 and China of 25.17. It is bad, landing them close to the bottom, but 1,000x is a huge overstatement.

By the way, India, the US's and Japan's ally is only a few places above Russia at 41. Saudi Arabia, another important ally, has a PFI of 33.71.

This is a lot of detail, but it's impossible to get the full picture by making sweeping statements.

Neither the US nor Japan have contributed to the democratization or enforcement of law or any kind of fairness anywhere outside its borders (and are, to a great extent, not doing a great job within either) in the last 70 decades, and in the Global South ever.

The rhetoric about "freedom", "democracy" or "rule of law" is only a way to sell the otherwise less than appealing means to extract resources outside the country's borders that help advance the economic interests of those most powerful within that country.

It's completely understandable these powers are afraid of losing their hegemony in their respective areas. Also, places like Taiwan would arguably be a much worse place to live if it was ruled by the CCP. However, I have no illusions Japan or America want to protect anything else except their own economic interests. So does China, but two wrongs don't make a right.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Rule of Law???

Did he think that up all by himself or did he just read it off the script?

Whose law is the point!

What's right under the laws of the duck hunter isn't necessarily right according to the duck.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Russia has an index of 38.82 and China of 25.17. It is bad, landing them close to the bottom, but 1,000x is a huge overstatement.

When you're at the bottom, you're at the bottom...

By the way, India, the US's and Japan's ally is only a few places above Russia at 41. Saudi Arabia, another important ally, has a PFI of 33.71.

India is the US's ally? Tell that to Evil Buddha if he is around. Btw, Iran is below even China and Saudi Arabia at 23.22.

Neither the US nor Japan have contributed to the democratization or enforcement of law or any kind of fairness anywhere outside its borders (and are, to a great extent, not doing a great job within either) in the last 70 decades, and in the Global South ever.

Ridiculous. It doesn't always make the news when education is provided or disputes are mediated or anti-corruption laws are enforced on overseas transactions.

However, I have no illusions Japan or America want to protect anything else except their own economic interests. So does China, but two wrongs don't make a right.

Democracy does exist and it is better for the world than despotism. I'm glad you hate America and Japan but I doubt you're here to say Sweden has the answers.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Having lived in Beijing for a year, I can attest that China is a scary place.

me too but not Beijing. I found China one of the safest places in the world.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

India is the US's ally?

Yes, it is. And Japan's, Kishida visited India a few days ago with a mission of "creating a safe Indo-Pacific". There was an article on it here, on Japan Today. Both Japan and US are hell-bent on countering what they see as a threat from China in the region.

Democracy does exist and it is better for the world than despotism.

Of course.

Ridiculous. It doesn't always make the news when education is provided or disputes are mediated or anti-corruption laws are enforced on overseas transactions.

I don't know what "education is provided" is supposed to mean, but anyway. The fact you haven't given a single specific positive example (rather than picking random countries that have bad relations with the US to show how bad they are) may give a clue as to why it doesn't make the news. Also, didn't the Ayatollah seize in a series of events pretty much started after the US staged a coup against a democratically elected PM?

I'm glad you hate America and Japan

Being critical of a country's policies doesn't mean the same as "hating" them. But to some people it's all about taking sides, I guess.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

It is patently clear that many posters have no understanding of what “rule of law” means yet gleefully comment in ignorance. Others are well known for their blind support of dictatorships for whom such a concept is both anathema and an existential threat to their power, so no surprise there. The cynical knee jerk anti-western comments are just sad.

Internationally the consensus on the rule of law determining relations is the only acceptable and civilised form of interstate interaction, the alternative is the law of the jungle with the strong preying upon the weak and disputes mediated with blood. Just what the Muscovite empire under poo tin is attempting in Ukraine and CCP governed China under Pooh bear wants to apply to its neighbours.

If that is the world you want to live in then I feel very sorry for you, but the rest of sane humanity does not.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@TaiwanisnotChina

Although sympathetic to the occidental way of looking at the world, it is not the only way.

My opinion:Japan shouldn’t follow the US like a bitch in heat, as it usually does

Neither should Kishida ignorantly opine on American created memes.

Time for Japan to reform and treat society members more equally otherwise it is all just lapdog BS!

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

 don't know what "education is provided" is supposed to mean, but anyway. The fact you haven't given a single specific positive example (rather than picking random countries that have bad relations with the US to show how bad they are) may give a clue as to why it doesn't make the news.

Here is your single example:

https://www.usaid.gov/education

I bet you feel silly now demanding it. Every time a child is educated, they are much less likely to support a murderous tyrant.

Here is a better example:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_Corrupt_Practices_Act

Any American that engages in bribery anywhere in the world can be charged under it. It hurst the US economy but it is the right thing to do to limit corruption that is the lifeblood of dictatorships.

Also, didn't the Ayatollah seize in a series of events pretty much started after the US staged a coup against a democratically elected PM?

The US isn't responsible for what goes on in Iran until the end of time. You should not support the murderous Ayatollahs and then cynically say it is all the US' fault.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Oh dear, just because there is a law in place doesn’t mean it is acted upon.

Would that countenance the reality to absolve the US state of its moral responsibilities?

No.

Kishida’s words relate to state actors not individuals and those in power under ‘their’ Rule of Law

Ponder,

How many thousands of INNOCENT Iraquis were clandestinely tortured,water boarded and sent to Gitmo over 9-11?

How about the “Rule of Law” in that now demolished hellhole of a prison, (now demolished but not forgotten) the stripped naked,piled up prisoners that were threatened by snarling and barking K-9s?

Americans breaking the law away from US soil where their “laws” don’t need to apply.

Basing ‘law’ on political power plays and regime change and military agression is not law, it is something darkly different

Kushida reads from a prepared script the majority of the time, without understanding what he is saying-a puppet….

0 ( +1 / -1 )

How many thousands of INNOCENT Iraquis were clandestinely tortured,water boarded and sent to Gitmo over 9-11?

I see you have turned a blind eye to Russia's warcrimes in Ukraine, so I think you don't have much room to talk on that point.

How about the “Rule of Law” in that now demolished hellhole of a prison, (now demolished but not forgotten) the stripped naked,piled up prisoners that were threatened by snarling and barking K-9s?

What's even worse than being stripped naked is being left to rot from sham trials in Russia and China.

Americans breaking the law away from US soil where their “laws” don’t need to apply.

Is that a justification for Russian abductions I see?

Basing ‘law’ on political power plays and regime change and military agression is not law, it is something darkly different

Tell that to Putin, who is going for a regime change right this second.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@TaiwanIsNotChina

The reasons for Russia entering Ukraine were the threats to its own national security.

Please research the reasons that are apparent to many already and should be apparent to you.

Also, I do not see how Russia can be compared with the US which has been responsible for and continues to be the most virulent war mongering country since its inception.

By all means ignore the facts but they won’t go away…

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The reasons for Russia entering Ukraine were the threats to its own national security.

Illegal reasons are illegal reasons. Remember not only Russia's national security matters but so does Ukraine's.

Also, I do not see how Russia can be compared with the US which has been responsible for and continues to be the most virulent war mongering country since its inception.

8 million refugees from Putin's war in Ukraine. That is about the same as the Iraq War and that went on a lot longer and had ISIS as an element. Russia will FOREVER be compared to the US or held to be worse.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I bet you feel silly now demanding it. Every time a child is educated, they are much less likely to support a murderous tyrant.

No, I don't feel silly. Sharing a US government agency's data doesn't really work as independent proof. What's more, the notion of western powers "educating" poor countries for their own good is as old as colonial history.

And even if the US, and other "developed" countries, do contribute to advances in education in less wealthy countries, it always comes at a price, often in the form of extraction of resources and cheap labour. What's more, "murderous tyrants" in countries such as Nicaragua, Chile, Zaire (now the DRC), Iran (before another one took over), Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, just to name a few, were or are openly supported by the US, in some cases at the expense of less harmful system. In other situations, such as Iraq, the US with their allies helped replace a dictator with complete chaos.

The US isn't responsible for what goes on in Iran until the end of time. You should not support the murderous Ayatollahs and then cynically say it is all the US' fault.

It's only a hypothetical, but I wonder how many people would have gotten radicalised and toppled the Shah's regime if they'd live under the democracy the US had helped end. The same goes for other parts of the Middle East. The same goes for the Khmer Rouge that recruited largely from areas heavily bombed in Cambodia.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It's only a hypothetical, but I wonder how many people would have gotten radicalised and toppled the Shah's regime if they'd live under the democracy the US had helped end. The same goes for other parts of the Middle East. The same goes for the Khmer Rouge that recruited largely from areas heavily bombed in Cambodia.

If you think the US is behind everything bad in the world, you need to reconsider your biases.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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