November 12, 2011
Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko’s remark, “I will make a careful judgment,” turned out to be just a one-day postponement to announcing his decision. He was initially planning to announce to the nation on November 10 that he will enter into talks with related countries towards Japan’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement negotiations. Instead he did it in the evening of the next day. With this decision, he left for Hawaii to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings.
About 80% of Japan’s municipal assemblies at both the prefectural and city levels expressed opposition to or need for careful consideration regarding Japan’s entry into the TPP negotiations. More than 11.7 million people signed anti-TPP petitions. The Democratic Party-led government paid no notice at all to these voices. Can this be called a democratic government? It shuts its ears to what the people are earnestly calling for in sit-in protests every day in front of the Diet building as well as in rallies and demonstrations being held throughout Japan. Is this what he meant in his remark, “I will make a careful judgment”?
PM Noda at a news conference said, “I know well that there are many concerns over the TPP,” but he did not respond to these concerns. He just said, “I’m determined to preserve Japan’s medical insurance system of which we can be proud, and our traditions, culture, and beautiful farming villages.”
However, after entering into the TPP, there will be no guarantee that he can save them. That’s why even pro-TPP media are describing the TPP as splitting public opinion in two.
TPP participation will hamper Japan’s recovery from the 3.11 disaster, be incompatible with raising the food self-sufficiency rate to 50% as the government set as a goal, and allow the U.S. to impose its one-sided demands on Japan. How can he possibly “incorporate the energy of other countries into Japan’s economic growth”?
U.S. senators on November 8 urged the U.S. administration to confirm with Japan if it is willing “to meet the high standard commitments inherent in U.S. free trade agreements” in regard to autos, various agriculture products including beef, insurance, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. Japan’s membership in the TPP requires U.S. Congressional approval. It is highly likely that the U.S. side will require that Japan accept all the U.S. demands in prior consultations.
The Cabinet on November 8 drew up a written reply to a question made by DPJ lawmakers asking what products or services Japan will protect in the TPP negotiations. The reply was, “It is difficult to show you a concrete strategy.” The government cannot publicly announce the strategy it is going into talks with. PM Noda’s claim of determination that he would “preserve” Japan’s medical insurance system and agriculture is ringing hollow.
The only reason he cited for participation in the TPP negotiations was that Japan “needs to incorporate the growth of the Asia-Pacific region for further development.” However, with China, South Korea, India, and Indonesia not participating in the TPP agreement, Japan cannot hope to “incorporate the growth of the Asia-Pacific region.”
In effect, as pointed out by Japanese Communist Party representative Kasai Akira during the Lower House Budget Committee on November 9, it is Japan itself that will be incorporated. The United States is desperate to increase exports in order to expand job opportunities because the unemployment rate is increasing and the economy has been in a state of deadlock.
As long as the Noda Cabinet focuses on complying with the wishes of the United States while turning its back on the general public, public opposition will increase to stop Japan from joining the TPP. Noda may feel that if Japan encounters U.S. displeasure, Japan will have no future. However, it is the Noda Cabinet that will have no future when it encounters increased public displeasure.
About 80% of Japan’s municipal assemblies at both the prefectural and city levels expressed opposition to or need for careful consideration regarding Japan’s entry into the TPP negotiations. More than 11.7 million people signed anti-TPP petitions. The Democratic Party-led government paid no notice at all to these voices. Can this be called a democratic government? It shuts its ears to what the people are earnestly calling for in sit-in protests every day in front of the Diet building as well as in rallies and demonstrations being held throughout Japan. Is this what he meant in his remark, “I will make a careful judgment”?
PM Noda at a news conference said, “I know well that there are many concerns over the TPP,” but he did not respond to these concerns. He just said, “I’m determined to preserve Japan’s medical insurance system of which we can be proud, and our traditions, culture, and beautiful farming villages.”
However, after entering into the TPP, there will be no guarantee that he can save them. That’s why even pro-TPP media are describing the TPP as splitting public opinion in two.
TPP participation will hamper Japan’s recovery from the 3.11 disaster, be incompatible with raising the food self-sufficiency rate to 50% as the government set as a goal, and allow the U.S. to impose its one-sided demands on Japan. How can he possibly “incorporate the energy of other countries into Japan’s economic growth”?
U.S. senators on November 8 urged the U.S. administration to confirm with Japan if it is willing “to meet the high standard commitments inherent in U.S. free trade agreements” in regard to autos, various agriculture products including beef, insurance, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. Japan’s membership in the TPP requires U.S. Congressional approval. It is highly likely that the U.S. side will require that Japan accept all the U.S. demands in prior consultations.
The Cabinet on November 8 drew up a written reply to a question made by DPJ lawmakers asking what products or services Japan will protect in the TPP negotiations. The reply was, “It is difficult to show you a concrete strategy.” The government cannot publicly announce the strategy it is going into talks with. PM Noda’s claim of determination that he would “preserve” Japan’s medical insurance system and agriculture is ringing hollow.
The only reason he cited for participation in the TPP negotiations was that Japan “needs to incorporate the growth of the Asia-Pacific region for further development.” However, with China, South Korea, India, and Indonesia not participating in the TPP agreement, Japan cannot hope to “incorporate the growth of the Asia-Pacific region.”
In effect, as pointed out by Japanese Communist Party representative Kasai Akira during the Lower House Budget Committee on November 9, it is Japan itself that will be incorporated. The United States is desperate to increase exports in order to expand job opportunities because the unemployment rate is increasing and the economy has been in a state of deadlock.
As long as the Noda Cabinet focuses on complying with the wishes of the United States while turning its back on the general public, public opposition will increase to stop Japan from joining the TPP. Noda may feel that if Japan encounters U.S. displeasure, Japan will have no future. However, it is the Noda Cabinet that will have no future when it encounters increased public displeasure.
