October 20, 2011
The Noda Cabinet is going ahead with its attempt to participate in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. While local newspapers are attempting to put brakes on the runaway government, the major dailies such as Asahi, Yomiuri, Mainichi, and Nikkei are fueling that runaway momentum.
Yomiuri Shimbun of October 19 called on the administration to “join TPP talks swiftly to open up the country.” Nikkei Shimbun of October 12 encouraged Prime Minister Noda to exercise “bold leadership to take part in TPP negotiations.”
These papers advocate Japan’s early participation in the TPP as Asahi Shimbun of October 5 argues, “In order to not bring disadvantages to Japan, it will be better to be involved in from the very start of the rule-making process,” or as Yomiuri of October 19 claims, “If the nation comes late to the TPP, Japan will have to accept the agreed rules even if they put the country at a disadvantage.”
They even ran articles hostile to arguments against the TPP. For example, Asahi of October 16 states, “Opponents claim they are trying to protect the livelihoods of the people. But it is important to find out whether such a claim is simply used as a pretext to protect vested interests of related industries.” Mainichi Shimbun of September 10 states, “Terror propaganda like ‘it would destroy Japan’s agriculture’ is becoming widespread.”
Japanese agricultural organizations and the Japan Medical Association as well as the majority of the general public are in opposition to Japan’s entry in the TPP. The government itself estimates that the TPP would lower Japan’s food self-sufficiency ratio to 13%, which clearly shows the probability that the TPP will destroy what remains of Japan’s agriculture sector. There are 24 working groups in the TPP negotiations working for the purpose of removing all nontariff barriers. This also makes clear that the TPP will affect all areas of the economy and people’s lives.
The push by the major daily papers is indicative of journalism abandoning its role to “be a watchdog of power” and “to report the truth” to the public.
Yomiuri Shimbun of October 19 called on the administration to “join TPP talks swiftly to open up the country.” Nikkei Shimbun of October 12 encouraged Prime Minister Noda to exercise “bold leadership to take part in TPP negotiations.”
These papers advocate Japan’s early participation in the TPP as Asahi Shimbun of October 5 argues, “In order to not bring disadvantages to Japan, it will be better to be involved in from the very start of the rule-making process,” or as Yomiuri of October 19 claims, “If the nation comes late to the TPP, Japan will have to accept the agreed rules even if they put the country at a disadvantage.”
They even ran articles hostile to arguments against the TPP. For example, Asahi of October 16 states, “Opponents claim they are trying to protect the livelihoods of the people. But it is important to find out whether such a claim is simply used as a pretext to protect vested interests of related industries.” Mainichi Shimbun of September 10 states, “Terror propaganda like ‘it would destroy Japan’s agriculture’ is becoming widespread.”
Japanese agricultural organizations and the Japan Medical Association as well as the majority of the general public are in opposition to Japan’s entry in the TPP. The government itself estimates that the TPP would lower Japan’s food self-sufficiency ratio to 13%, which clearly shows the probability that the TPP will destroy what remains of Japan’s agriculture sector. There are 24 working groups in the TPP negotiations working for the purpose of removing all nontariff barriers. This also makes clear that the TPP will affect all areas of the economy and people’s lives.
The push by the major daily papers is indicative of journalism abandoning its role to “be a watchdog of power” and “to report the truth” to the public.
