An Assertive Japan ? - Shinzo Abe Calls for 'Stronger Nation'

[no smoking]

Re: New Japan PM good news for India

@amoy,
For the Japanese people beset with a sagging economy, no jobs and rising tension with China, he promises a move away from the paralysis of the previous Government.

Every PM promised the same thing before they took the office. They believe they could be different. However, the fact is they all failed.

His performance will be keenly looked into. To me the most important is the way he tackles the bureaucracy which is so deeply entrenched in Japan.

I don't think the bureaucracy is the problem here. Japan's gov is till the most efficient gov in the world. The problem is the noble families and the politicians representing them. Unfortunately, Abe is one of them. And their supports is the reason for his successful come back.

For the global economy we need Japan to start growing economically again. We cannot depend on the US, EU and to some extent PRC to lead the growth. Japan has been an important driver of the world economy and is required to pull it's weight once again.

No major power except India wants Japan to grow economically again. But india's attitude regarding foreign direct investment doesn't really help Japan.

 

[bose]

Re: New Japan PM good news for India

Japan must come out its pacifist attitute and start re building its defense forces for operations outside Japan... We need a very close co opration between Japan, USA, Vietnam & India in the South China Sea.

 

[sob]

Re: New Japan PM good news for India

Every PM promised the same thing before they took the office. They believe they could be different. However, the fact is they all failed.




I don't think the bureaucracy is the problem here. Japan's gov is till the most efficient gov in the world. The problem is the noble families and the politicians representing them. Unfortunately, Abe is one of them. And their supports is the reason for his successful come back.



No major power except India wants Japan to grow economically again. But india's attitude regarding foreign direct investment doesn't really help Japan.

I do not kno the basis of your views of Japan. Of course a politician has to promise to perform miracles, otherwise why will he be elected.

Regarding the role of the bureaucracy, you obviously are talking through your hat. Anybody who has been observing Japan for some time knows the might of the bureaucracy and the way it is deeply entrenched. In a nation which has seen nearly a PM a year since WW-II, who do you think is running the country?

Being from PRC, i can understand why you would not want Japan to grow, but looking at it independently at this moment the world economy is relying on the US economy. China is only feeding the US economy and it is also in the interest of China that the global economy grows to pre 2008 times. You need customers because your biggest source of earnings are exports and will remain for some time in the future.

You may not want Japan to grow strong in military strength, is understandable, but not wishing an economic recovery from Japan is akin to shooting yourself in the foot.

 

[amoy]

Re: New Japan PM good news for India

You may not want Japan to grow strong in military strength, is understandable, but not wishing an economic recovery from Japan is akin to shooting yourself in the foot.

That's why China, S,Korea and Japan (CJK) are busy negotiating FTA at the same time despite the tensions.

As for naive fancies like Japan getting "re-malitarized" or its hands being tied by "Pacifist" constitution these are non-issues as said. In fact Japan already has a top-class military in the veneer of "self defence" force. It also dispatches the force aboard such as Japan extends historic military deployment to Iraq against the constitution. So a "hawkish" Abe makes no difference in this regard, and he appears quite mild in contrast to some others like Ishihara. Bear in mind his first destination of visit during his last tenure was China years back.

 

[sob]

@amoy, your assessment is spot on. Abe has to strike a certain posture due to the Domestic compulsions, but every Japanese knows that their comfort level is not achieved by the SDF but by a booming economy. The US presence in Okinawa is enough to protect Japan.

Moreover they are more afraid of the N.Korean regime than the PRC.

 

[ice berg]

Re: New Japan PM good news for India

@amoy,

Abe has no magic wand for Japan, and neither will his coming to power change everything. For the Japanese people beset with a sagging economy, no jobs and rising tension with China, he promises a move away from the paralysis of the previous Government.
His performance will be keenly looked into. To me the most important is the way he tackles the bureaucracy which is so deeply entrenched in Japan. For the global economy we need Japan to start growing economically again. We cannot depend on the US, EU and to some extent PRC to lead the growth. Japan has been an important driver of the world economy and is required to pull it's weight once again.

I dont know where you have been. Japan has not been an important driver of world economy for the last 20 years. Not since their asset price bubble busted.

Japan's ratio of government debt to gross domestic product, currently about 2.28, is by far the highest in the industrial world, almost double that of even Greece and Italy, and steadily growing.

Good luck counting Japan to save you.

 

[sob]

Re: New Japan PM good news for India

I dont know where you have been. Japan has not been an important driver of world economy for the last 20 years. Not since their asset price bubble busted.

Japan's ratio of government debt to gross domestic product, currently about 2.28, is by far the highest in the industrial world, almost double that of even Greece and Italy, and steadily growing.

Good luck counting Japan to save you.

My one piece advice to you , just read the whole comment before posting your stupid rant.

 

[sob]

On back of the new Government in Japan, Japanese Yen dropped to a 20 month low against the US $. Exporters in Japan must be cheering Mr.Abe.

 

[asianobserve]

The potential of Japan has always been there but the whole country has been let down by lackluster politicians and uninspired visions (note that even now that it is openly sick it still can effectively deter China). But with looming Chinese threat the very potent Japanese nationalism may be waken up again. Certainly Mr. Abe and Co. doesn't lack nationalism. The question up to how far the Japanese establishment and public will embrace them? So right now Japan is a slumbering David but if it wakes up Goliath better use an Oakley goggles...

 

[asianobserve]

MAybe wrong metaphor - maybe it should be "helmet" instead of "goggles..."

 

[mattster]

If you read some of the posts here; one would think that Japan is doomed and that it is on a downward demise as an industrial power.

Japan is still one of the most advanced hi-tech economies of the world. It still leads in cutting edge technologies that many ASEAN or China.

If you want proof of that look at the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Most of the composites like the wings, etc are built in Japan. That's just one example. They are world leaders in materials, micro-electronics, heavy machinery, autos.

As for the aging population and slow growth rate... It's not just Japan. Everyone from China to the Scandinavians have the same issue.

The developing countries that multiply like rabbits have another problem. The people who multiply like rabbits are the underclass. So basically they have even bigger problems than the Japanese.

 

[ice berg]

Re: New Japan PM good news for India

My one piece advice to you , just read the whole comment before posting your stupid rant.

And my advice to you is to actually contribute to a thread instead of flamebait and personal attacks.

If you dont know the correlation between a strong economy and military strenghts, then you are not worth talking to.

 

[ice berg]

If you read some of the posts here; one would think that Japan is doomed and that it is on a downward demise as an industrial power.

Japan is still one of the most advanced hi-tech economies of the world. It still leads in cutting edge technologies that many ASEAN or China.

If you want proof of that look at the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Most of the composites like the wings, etc are built in Japan. That's just one example. They are world leaders in materials, micro-electronics, heavy machinery, autos.

As for the aging population and slow growth rate... It's not just Japan. Everyone from China to the Scandinavians have the same issue.

The developing countries that multiply like rabbits have another problem. The people who multiply like rabbits are the underclass. So basically they have even bigger problems than the Japanese.

It is true that aging population and slow growth rate is affecting other countries too. The difference is while other countries are toward that direction, Japan is already there.
Japan has a fertility rate of 1.39. Norway is 1,77, Iceland 1, 89.

Total fertility rate - Country Comparison

With a strict immigration law, I dont see how they gonna climb out of it.

When you said the developing countries, what country are you thinking of? High fertility rate is neither good or bad. It all depends on how you manage to make them productive with the limited recources you got.

 

[Zero_Wing]

Yup read the whole thing first!

 

[Zebra]

Japan, France Agree on Defense Equipment Cooperation

Jul. 29, 2014 - 07:55PM |
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

TOKYO — Japan and France on Tuesday agreed to enhance defense cooperation, including the joint development of military equipment, Japanese officials said.

Japan's Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian signed a memorandum of understanding in Tokyo despite Japanese concerns about a planned sale of French warships to Russia.

The agreement comes shortly after Japan's government — led by conservative Prime Minister Shinzo Abe — expanded the scope of the country's forces, allowing it the right to go into battle in defense of its allies.......


Japan, France Agree on Defense Equipment Cooperation | Defense News | defensenews.com