The Prime Minister's Office in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. (Inside image ©Sankei by Yasuhiro Yajima)
JAPAN Forward entered its 8th year in June. Starting with just three members, our team has now grown to about 20, including close collaborators. Our multilingual, multinational editorial team, sharing a vision for a better Japan, strives daily to provide insights not found in other English-language media outlets.
Diverse Coverage from a Diverse Team
Our readership spans across Asia, including India — a country with a burgeoning economy. Also among our readers are experts who are often consulted on policy-making in North America. Particularly encouraging is our strong following among young adults aged 18-44, which inspires hope for Japan's future.
JAPAN Forward actively covers various facets of Japan, ranging from current affairs to culture and sports. Using the strengths of online media, we also deliver content through videos, podcasts, and social media platforms to engage a wide diversity of readers.
To find out our most-read articles of the past two weeks, visitors can check the rankings on the right-hand side of our home page. For instance, last week's top-ranking article was contributed by retired United States Marine Colonel Grant Newsham.
Patience or Indecision?
In summary, the article discusses how Beijing already claims the Senkaku Islands in Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, as Chinese territory. And it is willing to use force if necessary if Japan shows any vulnerability.
China frequently breaches Japan's territorial waters and airspace around the Senkakus. Newsham warns that Beijing aims to solidify its control over the islands as a fait accompli. If Japan were to respond to provocations with even a single shot fired at a Chinese vessel, Beijing would claim to be the aggrieved party. It would use it as an excuse to escalate military aggression, and even threaten all-out war.
Japan has responded patiently to such provocations over the past 15 years. Newsham questions whether Japan is truly prepared to face China's aggression.
Enhanced Cooperation
The former US Marine colonel argues that Japan and the US Navy should establish a framework to "make defense of the Ryukyus and the Senkakus a joint affair." This approach would show China the high stakes of seizing the islands by force.
The author concludes that Japan and the United States must impose financial sanctions on China. This includes freezing assets held abroad by Chinese Communist Party officials. Without such measures, Beijing will not give up on the Senkakus.
There have been calls to impose financial sanctions against China from our Japanese contributors as well. On July 8, JAPAN Forward published a commentary by Hideo Tamura from the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals. Tamura argued that China's purchases of Russian crude oil at high prices are indirectly supporting Russia's war efforts in Ukraine.
Moreover, he pointed out, "China is taking advantage of Russia's upper hand in Ukraine to intensify an offensive against Taiwan, Japan's Senkaku Islands, and the South China Sea."
Urging Japan to take decisive action, Tamura concluded, "For Japan, the Ukraine war is no longer just a problem for somebody else. He called on Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government to "determinedly push the United States to impose financial sanctions on China."
Acting with Foresight
Implementing financial sanctions against China will inevitably impact Japanese and American financial markets. It may also trigger retaliatory measures from Beijing. However, in the face of China's aggressive territorial ambitions, there may be no alternative to firmly communicating a clear message. The Kishida administration must seriously consider this option.
The era of indecision and delay is over for Japan. The world has entered an era where national interests collide and strength is required to survive. What is needed now is a leader capable of foreseeing the world's future to guide Japan wisely. Does Mr Kishida possess that capability? Can he act as a leader for the peace and stability of Asia and the world? There has never been a more testing time than now.
Watch for the next issue on August 26.
JAPAN Forward is a small media outlet driven by an unparalleled passion to amplify Japan's voice worldwide. To join us in shaping our vision together or for inquiries, please call 0570-033-433 (Sankei iD) or email us at info@japan-forward.com.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Yasuo Naito, Editor in Chief, JAPAN Forward
