Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba listens to a question from CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda during a plenary session of the House of Representatives on the afternoon of December 2. (©Sankei by Ataru Haruna)
このページを 日本語 で読む
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivered a major policy speech to the Japanese Diet on November 29. After his speech, he responded to questions from representatives of Japan's various political parties. Lively debate on the issue of politics and money followed. Unfortunately, a discussion of foreign and national security issues, including Japan's immediate neighbor Taiwan, was decidedly low-key.
Masaji Matsuyama, Secretary-General of the House of Councillors and a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), did raise some important issues. He touched on China's insistence that it "will definitely achieve complete unification" with Taiwan. He also mentioned Beijing's strengthening of its ties with Russia, which continues to invade Ukraine. As well, he discussed North Korea's military adventurism with Russia.
Matsuyama called for Japan's defense capabilities to be steadily bolstered to ensure the security environment in East Asia is not greatly destabilized.
PM Ishiba appropriately pledged to work to strengthen Japan's deterrence and response capabilities in his response to Matsuyama. Nonetheless, it was unacceptable that he did not mention the importance of "peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait" nor any concrete measures to achieve that goal.
Opposition Parties on Defense
Unfortunately, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan can only be seen as not taking national security seriously. Regarding Japan-China relations, CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda brought up the issue of China's accession to the Trans-Pacific Partnership. He also mentioned the series of unwarranted detentions of Japanese nationals in China. But, like the Prime Minister, he never mentioned "Taiwan."
In light of the ongoing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, Noda pointed out the risk of Russia joining the war in the event of an emergency on the Korean Peninsula. He also expressed recognition that this is a "crisis for Japan's national security." In that case, shouldn't we also be discussing Russia's invasion of Ukraine?
At the same time, CDP policy chief Kiyomi Tsujimoto criticized the ￥43 trillion JPY ($286 billion USD) defense budget over five years. She declared: "Why not shift money from the military to spending on people? It's tying things up." She then called for some defense funds to be allocated for other purposes.
This is a truly dangerous argument that sends exactly the wrong message to regimes that believe "might makes right" — for example, China and North Korea.
Her action also weakens the deterrent power that maintains peace. If a crisis involving Taiwan were to erupt, the lives of many Japanese citizens and a huge amount of our national wealth could be lost. Many opposition parties participated in the questioning, including the Komeito and CDP. It is difficult to understand why they did not highlight the importance of the Taiwan issue.
Politics and Money
Regarding the issue of politics and money, the CDP, the Japan Restoration Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai), and the Japan Communist Party (JCP) have called for a ban on corporate and group donations. In his response, the Prime Minister said, "I do not believe that would be inappropriate."
Nonetheless, we believe freedom of political activity for companies and organizations should continue to be recognized.
On another issue, the CDP and JCP have called for the adoption of a system allowing voluntary selection of marital surnames. Correctly, the Prime Minister displayed a cautious attitude towards the issue. Even if such a system were declared "voluntary," it is so in name only. The proposed system ignores the fact that it would still be a case of "forced separate surnames" for one parent and children from the marriage.
RELATED
- EDITORIAL | Ishiba's Agenda Lacks Everything Crucial to Japan's Security
- China, as Seen Through the Lens of Four Middle Powers
- INTERVIEW | Canadian Author George Takach Analyzes the New Cold War
Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
このページを 日本語 で読む
