Japan Institute for National Fundamentals

2021.12.13 (Mon)

【#862】Japan Should Support Export Controls and Human Rights Initiative

December 13, 2021 　 U.S. President Joe Biden hosted an online Summit for Democracy on December 9 and 10. He invited leaders of around 110 countries to the unusually large meeting. Though the advisab...

2021.09.29 (Wed)

【#836】We Should Welcome Taiwan’s CPTPP Bid but Be Cautious About China’s

September 27, 2021 　 Following China’s application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Taiwan filed its application. While I noted in my previo...

2021.09.22 (Wed)

【#831】How to Respond to China’s Application to Join CPTPP?

September 21, 2021 　 China has officially applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTTP). The action had been expected since Chinese President Xi J...

2021.07.15 (Thu)

【#814】Would Japan Refrain from Export Controls Linked to Human Rights Abuse?

July 12, 2021 　 Western countries are toughening trade regulations in light of human rights abuse in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region. The United States has banned the import of cotton ...

2021.06.24 (Thu)

【#804】National Security Matters Separate from Corporate Governance Regarding Toshiba

June 21, 2021 　 An outside investigation report on Toshiba Corp. recently came out, concluding that the company unfairly managed its general shareholders’ meeting last year. As requested by Toshiba,...

2021.05.27 (Thu)

【#795】U.S. Uniqlo Case Represents Warning to Japan’s Human Rights Policy

May 24, 2021 　 On May 10, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it blocked Fast Retailing Co.’s Uniqlo brand shirts on concerns they violated a ban on cotton products produced in China’s Xinji...

2021.04.28 (Wed)

【#786】Rakuten and Government Required to Address Tencent Issue

April 26, 2021 　 I have pointed out concern over economic security regarding investment in Rakuten Inc. by a subsidiary of Chinese information technology giant Tencent Holding Ltd. in this column si...

2021.03.25 (Thu)

【#778】Rakuten Plagued with Tencent Risk

March 23, 2021 　 In the March 18 Speaking Out (#774) column, I pointed out concerns over investment in Rakuten Inc. by Japan Post Holdings Co. and a subsidiary of Chinese information technology gian...

2021.03.18 (Thu)

【#774】Economic Security Pitfalls behind Japan Post-Rakuten Partnership

March 15, 2021 　 Japan Post Holdings Co. and Rakuten Inc. announced their equity and business partnership on March 12, sending a shock wave throughout Japan. In response to an equity share offer b...

2021.03.04 (Thu)

【#767】Supply Chain Review Providing Chance for Japan-U.S. Cooperation

March 1, 2021 　 On February 24, U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order mandating a review of supply chains for four critical products: computer chips, large-capacity batteries, pharmac...