Japan election: PM Sanae Takaichi on course for landslide win
Be honest—this is ridiculous.
Starter Comment
Some excerpts from the article:
The country's first female prime minister is seeking a clear public mandate just four months after becoming Liberal Democrat Party (LDP) leader.
Her predicted success is in marked contrast to her two predecessors, under whom the party lost its parliamentary majority because of corruption scandals and rising costs.
But Takaichi's personal popularity appears to have helped the party, with approval ratings for her government mostly hovering above 70%.
The LDP and its current coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, could secure as many as 366 of the 465 seats [~79%] in the House of Representatives, according to a poll by broadcaster NHK.
Takaichi's enthusiasm, populist spending promises and nationalist rhetoric appear to have energised voters.
Takaichi has pushed to toughen the immigration system, review rules around foreign ownership of Japanese land, and tackle any non-payments of tax and health insurance by foreign nationals. But in a country where only 3% of the population are foreign nationals, critics have accused her of creating anxiety and division.
Relations with China - Japan's largest trading partner - have been strained as well, after Takaichi suggested last November that Japan could intervene militarily if China invaded Taiwan.
Takaichi has courted Donald Trump, who has publicly endorsed her - an unusual move by a US president - and they both seem to agree that Japan should spend more on defence.
My take:
While the U.S. remains Japan's most important military partner, President Trump's mercurial character and explicit America First policy makes him an unreliable ally. To provide security against a rising China, Japan must align themselves with other regional powers, e.g., South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, etc.
Takaichi's embrace of nationalism, including revisionism of Japan's imperial and WW2 history, poses a major diplomatic obstacle. I doubt that joint dumm sessions will are sufficient to mend historical wrongs.
If China truly poses an existential threat to Japan, a candid and complete recognition of historical atrocities doesn't seem such a big ask.
Questions:
-Do you believe that Takaichi can successfully reinvigorate Japan's ailing economy?
-What are the geopolitical implications of Takaichi's nationalist rhetoric and more bellicose stance towards China?
-In the context of President Trump's wavering defense commitments to historical allies, do you believe that Takaichi will be able to secure and strengthen military ties with the US.
Be honest—this is ridiculous.
Starter Comment
Some excerpts from the article:
The country's first female prime minister is seeking a clear public mandate just four months after becoming Liberal Democrat Party (LDP) leader.
Her predicted success is in marked contrast to her two predecessors, under whom the party lost its parliamentary majority because of corruption scandals and rising costs.
But Takaichi's personal popularity appears to have helped the party, with approval ratings for her government mostly hovering above 70%.
The LDP and its current coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, could secure as many as 366 of the 465 seats [~79%] in the House of Representatives, according to a poll by broadcaster NHK.
Takaichi's enthusiasm, populist spending promises and nationalist rhetoric appear to have energised voters.
Takaichi has pushed to toughen the immigration system, review rules around foreign ownership of Japanese land, and tackle any non-payments of tax and health insurance by foreign nationals. But in a country where only 3% of the population are foreign nationals, critics have accused her of creating anxiety and division.
Relations with China - Japan's largest trading partner - have been strained as well, after Takaichi suggested last November that Japan could intervene militarily if China invaded Taiwan.
Takaichi has courted Donald Trump, who has publicly endorsed her - an unusual move by a US president - and they both seem to agree that Japan should spend more on defence.
My take:
While the U.S. remains Japan's most important military partner, President Trump's mercurial character and explicit America First policy makes him an unreliable ally. To provide security against a rising China, Japan must align themselves with other regional powers, e.g., South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, etc.
Takaichi's embrace of nationalism, including revisionism of Japan's imperial and WW2 history, poses a major diplomatic obstacle. I doubt that joint dumm sessions will are sufficient to mend historical wrongs.
If China truly poses an existential threat to Japan, a candid and complete recognition of historical atrocities doesn't seem such a big ask.
Questions:
-Do you believe that Takaichi can successfully reinvigorate Japan's ailing economy?
-What are the geopolitical implications of Takaichi's nationalist rhetoric and more bellicose stance towards China?
-In the context of President Trump's wavering defense commitments to historical allies, do you believe that Takaichi will be able to secure and strengthen military ties with the US.
Japan election: PM Sanae Takaichi on course for landslide win
Be honest—this is ridiculous.
Starter Comment
Some excerpts from the article:
The country's first female prime minister is seeking a clear public mandate just four months after becoming Liberal Democrat Party (LDP) leader.
Her predicted success is in marked contrast to her two predecessors, under whom the party lost its parliamentary majority because of corruption scandals and rising costs.
But Takaichi's personal popularity appears to have helped the party, with approval ratings for her government mostly hovering above 70%.
The LDP and its current coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, could secure as many as 366 of the 465 seats [~79%] in the House of Representatives, according to a poll by broadcaster NHK.
Takaichi's enthusiasm, populist spending promises and nationalist rhetoric appear to have energised voters.
Takaichi has pushed to toughen the immigration system, review rules around foreign ownership of Japanese land, and tackle any non-payments of tax and health insurance by foreign nationals. But in a country where only 3% of the population are foreign nationals, critics have accused her of creating anxiety and division.
Relations with China - Japan's largest trading partner - have been strained as well, after Takaichi suggested last November that Japan could intervene militarily if China invaded Taiwan.
Takaichi has courted Donald Trump, who has publicly endorsed her - an unusual move by a US president - and they both seem to agree that Japan should spend more on defence.
My take:
While the U.S. remains Japan's most important military partner, President Trump's mercurial character and explicit America First policy makes him an unreliable ally. To provide security against a rising China, Japan must align themselves with other regional powers, e.g., South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, etc.
Takaichi's embrace of nationalism, including revisionism of Japan's imperial and WW2 history, poses a major diplomatic obstacle. I doubt that joint dumm sessions will are sufficient to mend historical wrongs.
If China truly poses an existential threat to Japan, a candid and complete recognition of historical atrocities doesn't seem such a big ask.
Questions:
-Do you believe that Takaichi can successfully reinvigorate Japan's ailing economy?
-What are the geopolitical implications of Takaichi's nationalist rhetoric and more bellicose stance towards China?
-In the context of President Trump's wavering defense commitments to historical allies, do you believe that Takaichi will be able to secure and strengthen military ties with the US.
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