Japanese PM Kishida appoints pro-China ally as foreign minister

[xizhimen]

Japanese PM Kishida appoints pro-China ally as foreign minister​

Nov. 10 2021

Fumio Kishida has appointed a pro-China heavyweight to the post of foreign minister as the Japanese prime minister aims to strengthen the country’s national and economic security following his election victory last month.

The selection of Yoshimasa Hayashi, a former defence and education minister, reflects Kishida’s push to strengthen ties with the US while taking on a more assertive role in regional security to address the growing threat from China, say analysts.

The Harvard-educated, English-speaking 60-year-old is seen as a potential future prime minister and heads an association of parliamentarians that promotes relations with China. But experts believe he will adopt a nuanced strategy towards Beijing and Taiwan without disrupting ties with the Biden administration.

“He does have a friendlier stance towards China but he has a precise understanding of the Biden administration’s China strategy and it’s unlikely he will pursue a policy that will create tensions with the US,” said Atsuo Ito, a former staffer for the ruling Liberal Democratic party and now a political analyst.

Ito said the appointment was an indication that Kishida was more confident about his political standing, giving him the freedom to appoint allies into important positions. Hayashi is part of the prime minister’s own political faction, an organised group of parliamentarians who band together and trade their backing for commitments on policy and ministerial jobs.

When Kishida formed his first cabinet in early October after succeeding Yoshihide Suga as LDP leader and prime minister, he rewarded the factions that had supported him during the party leadership race. That resulted in important posts for allies of Shinzo Abe, the former prime minister, including the appointment of Akira Amari, the architect of Japan’s new economic security policy, as the party’s secretary-general.

After Amari became the first person in his position to lose his seat in the Diet’s lower house, Kishida replaced him with Toshimitsu Motegi, who was serving as foreign minister.

In Wednesday’s cabinet reshuffle, Kishida also named Gen Nakatani, former defence minister, as a special adviser on human rights.

“It was Prime Minister Kishida’s own decision to make these appointments,” Ito said.

Kishida faces challenges to sustain that momentum ahead of the upper house election next summer.

After maintaining a comfortable majority in the lower house, Kishida intends to focus on compiling a big stimulus package that will include cash handouts to reboot the pandemic-hit economy.

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[xizhimen]

Japan’s new foreign minister says important to build constructive ties with China​

By Syndicated ContentNov 10, 2021 | 8:34 PM

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s new foreign minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said on Thursday it was important to build constructive and stable ties with China, while asking for responsible behaviour from its giant neighbour.

Hayashi also said at his inaugural news conference that he had decided to step down as head of the Japan-China Parliamentarians’ Friendship League to avoid “unnecessary misunderstanding”.

There are doubts among conservative lawmakers in Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party if he, as the head of the league, can take a firm stance against China, local media have said.

Japan’s new foreign minister says important to build constructive ties with China

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's new foreign minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said on Thursday it was important to build constructive and stable ties with China,...

kelo.com

 

[Gary]

Biden was once called a pro-China too, by many pundits. Turns out he's even a larger headache for Beijing.

We'll have to see if his appointment as foreign minister reduced Japanese FOIP diplomacy or not. My guess is NO.

 

[xizhimen]

Biden was once called a pro-China too, by many pundits. Turns out he's even a larger headache for Beijing.

We'll have to see if his appointment as foreign minister reduced Japanese FOIP diplomacy or not. My guess is NO.

We'll see, Biden was never considered pro China, he doesn't really have strong China background like this Japanese new FM did.

 

[Gary]

We'll see, Biden was never considered pro China, he doesn't really have strong China background like this Japanese new FM did.

He's considered pro Beijing enough that someone is somewhat hopeful that he will be more China friendly.

Remember this ???

 

[xizhimen]

He's considered pro Beijing enough that someone is somewhat hopeful that he will be more China friendly.

Remember this ???
View attachment 35402

You do realise it was a joke, don't you?

 

[Ravager]

What's the better way to communicate delicate things than using the closest person to you ... ??
It's just that simple ...

 

[xizhimen]

NOVEMBER 11 2021 - 4:21PM

Japan's new FM seeks good China ties​

• Kiyoshi Takenaka​

​

Japan's new foreign minister says it's important to build constructive and stable ties with China while calling for responsible behaviour from its giant neighbour.
Staunch US ally Japan has recently been more outspoken on questioning China's assertiveness on issues such as the disputed South China Sea and self-ruled Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.

At the same time, Japan's ruling party plans to review defence posture amid China's military buildup and it aims to increase defence spending sharply.
Yoshimasa Hayashi, in his first news conference as foreign minister on Thursday, stressed the importance of constructive, stable relations with China.

"Ties between Japan and China are increasingly important not just for our two countries, but for the peace and prosperity of the region and the international community," Hayashi said.

"We need to assert and ask for responsible behaviour while at the same time, maintain dialogue and firmly cooperate on shared challenges," he said.
He did not elaborate on what he meant by responsible behaviour.

Ties between Japan and China have been plagued for years by a territorial dispute over a group of tiny East China Sea islets as well as the legacy of Japan's past military aggression.

Hayashi said time was not ripe to set a date for a visit to Japan by Chinese President Xi Jinping because of the coronavirus pandemic.
A state visit by Xi was originally scheduled for 2020 but was postponed because of the coronavirus.

Hayashi also said he would step down as head of the Japan-China Parliamentarians' Friendship League to avoid "unnecessary misunderstanding".

There have been doubts among conservative lawmakers in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party that Hayashi, as the head of the league, could take a firm stand on China, media has said.

Japan's new FM seeks good China ties

Japan's new foreign minister says it's important to build constructive and stable ties with China while calling for...

www.canberratimes.com.au