Japan Institute for National Fundamentals
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Speaking out

Takashi Arimoto

【#1186】Ishiba Should Break Away from His Past Policies

Takashi Arimoto ／ 2024.10.03 (Thu)


September 30, 2024

　
Even when I congratulate Shigeru Ishiba’s election as new leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, I cannot but have serious doubts about his fitness as the leader of this country, judging from his past words and actions. Most of all, Ishiba had indicated that he would not rule out an unprecedented female-line emperor as an option for a stable succession to the imperial throne.

In an interview with the Sankei Shimbun newspaper during the latest LDP leader election campaigns, Ishiba made a correction, saying, “The history that has been passed down through the male-line male succession should never be taken lightly. I personally believe that the throne should be inherited by a male-line male.” I want him to be sure to keep this position.

Withdraw a Japan-North Korea liaison office plan

I would also like to question his stance on the issue of North Korea’s abduction of Japanese citizens. Ishiba’s recommenders for the LDP leader election included Takeshi Iwaya, who was later appointed as foreign minister of the Ishiba cabinet, and other key members of a parliamentary league for promoting the normalization of Japan-North Korea diplomatic relations. Ishiba has endorsed the parliamentary league’s proposal to establish liaison offices in Tokyo and Pyongyang and to investigate about the abductees.

Even without any investigation, the North Korean authorities should have all the information about the abductees. The establishment of liaison offices and an investigation committee would help North Korea buy time. Ishiba should rescind the idea.

Regarding energy policy, Ishiba had shown his intention to do his utmost to achieve “zero nuclear power.” During the LDP election campaigns, however, he revised the idea by saying, “We must proceed with the operation of the necessary nuclear power plants.”

Japan’s energy self-sufficiency rate is extremely low among developed countries. If the proportion of renewable energy such as solar power is increased, electricity price hike will be inevitable, which will reduce the international competitiveness of Japanese industries and weaken them. Japan should not make renewable energy its main power source but maximize the use of nuclear power generation.

Premature proposal for “Asian NATO”

While proclaiming himself as a national security expert, Ishiba proposes the creation of an Asian NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). At his first press conference as the new LDP leader, he expressed his enthusiasm for the proposal. “There are many alliances (in Asia) such as Japan-U.S., U.S.-South Korea, and U.S.-Philippines. We should think about organically combining them,” he said. The proposal is premature. Ishiba’s plan for a revise of the Status of Forces Agreement between Japan and the United States should not be brought up now, either. His plan to establish a disaster prevention ministry is redundant, given the current situation in which the Self-Defense Forces are mobilized to deal with most disasters.

In recent years, Ishiba has expressed critical views on the LDP leadership as an “opposition party within the party” and has been valued by the liberal media. Now that he is the leader of the LDP, he cannot put the blame on others. I would like him to take a good look at former U.S. President Harry Truman’s motto, “The buck stops here.”

Takashi Arimoto is a Planning Committee member at the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals and a columnist at the Sankei Shimbun newspaper.