Challenges before Japan’s new Prime Minister
Fumio Kishida has been sworn in as the next Prime Minister of Japan, succeeding Yoshihide Suga, who resigned after only a year in office. Following the pandemic, Japan has had three prime ministers, which is unprecedented in Japanese politics. However, each Prime Minister faces his own set of problems after taking office, and Fumio Kishida is no exception. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party must persuade the public that it is turning to Kishida at this critical juncture, when Japan's economy is still recovering from the Pandemic's ravages, foreign policy challenges are at an all-time high, and Beijing's challenge to Japan's sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands is more visible than ever.
Kishida faces a long list of obstacles, but he needs the support of Japanese citizens. He stated that the general election will take place on October 31, and that he will "go forward with a politics of trust and sympathy, supported by a mandate from the people." The coronavirus response is the most important issue for the government, and promised that he will ‘build a new era of together’ with its new cabinet. Furthermore, to gain the recovery of economy he owes to creating a new model of capitalism focused on growth and redistribution by empowering the middle class and facilitating digitalization.
Both Yoshida Suga and Kishida have expressed concern about the cabinet; the ageing Prime Minister, 64, raises fears that the government would be dominated by veterans. However, the patterns are not identical to those of the Suga government, who believes in keeping the ministers that served under Shinzo Abe. The fact that thirteen of the 20 members of the body have no prior experience as cabinet ministers and many have only spent three terms as LDP members of the Diet shows a mark departure from the convention that evolves in Japanese politics. Furthermore, he has established his credentials as a progressive party member by asking for stringent term limits for party officials and implying a willingness to address the issue of financial corruption, which has harmed public trust in both the Suga and Abe administrations. Kishida, on the other hand, has been sensible in maintaining continuity in foreign policy and defense by keeping the ministry incumbents in place. Regardless of China's issues and shifting geopolitical realities, Kishida's personal experience will aid him in navigating foreign relations.
President Kishida would need to go all out to tackle the problems of economy that Japan is facing. At present, it need to ensure a necessary push for the economy after the pandemic. The pandemic howled severe blows to the economy, and as a result it induced recession, and it contracted by 7.9% in the second quarter. Although, these challenges are not a result of Pandemic alone, they were present before it as well. However, with the onset of the global lockdown, and health crisis, the situation got far worse. Japan’s track record has served as a model for all nations alike, but following the year 2019, the economy started showing signs of crisis like never before. The fluctuations in consumptions, or sales started affecting the established order. Moreover, the pandemic brought down this level further along with hampering the exports. President Kishida is expected to continue the policies of his predecessor Shinzo Abe, whose “Abenomics” brought a drastic change to Japan’s Economy. Abenomics worked as a conglomeration of progressive fiscal and monetary policies clubbed with structural reforms, which would have low taxes, trade liberalization, technological advancement, modernization. Nonetheless, President Kishida might want to stick to these policies, but would also need to take measures that encourage more women to join the workforce, along with dealing with a population that is largely on the last leg of their life. Therefore, the health, and pension sector would need government spending which in turn will cause the government to look for more ways to keep the balance. Domestically, the aspect of allowing “same-sex marriages” at a time when the population of the country is already on the lower end, would need a lot more insight than is already available.
In addition, there has been a slight shift in Kishida’s policies, as he is keen to modernize Japan’s self-defense capabilities. A part of this is also an indication of the changing reality of the international order. The unprecedented rise of China, and its aggression has compelled all the nations especially in its vicinity to ramp up its preparations to deal with any uncalled for situation from the Chinese end. Hence, President Kishida would need to look out for ways to modernize Japan’s military, and simultaneously invest in the alliances that are taking place in the region, especially with the United States. A point to consider here is that China was not reluctant in intruding into Japanese waters despite the pandemic, and global recession. Therefore, President Kishida cannot afford to underplay the Chinese threat.
Furthermore, issues of tourism, diplomacy and cellphone services are equally important. Japan had a sound tourism generated finance before the pandemic, but following the global crisis this has come to a halt. To revamp the tourist sector, President Kishida would need to roll out policies, and relaxations that make Japan a tourist attraction which is safe and affordable, while supporting the locals to host foreigners. Likewise, the Kishida administration would also need to work on a plan that on the one hand lowers the cellphone fees to benefit the consumers without compromising on the investment of telecommunication providers who are making their bargains for introducing 5G.
Lastly, the diplomatic challenge. President Kishida’s diplomatic experience is less in comparison to President Abe, and as the global times are rough, only the best diplomatic bid can help Japan sail through. Japan needs to be an ally of the United States, while constantly managing its ties with China, who is its largest trading partner and also its biggest threat in the region. Moreover, since he hails from Hiroshima, he is inclined to support “nuclear-weapon free” world. Amidst growing regional challenges, and continuous nuclear threats, it would be a tall order for Kishida to put forth this agenda.
Japan as a nation has “seen it all” ever since the tragic “nuclear attack”, but as the times advanced it has held its ground strong. The vacuum created after President Abe is becoming difficult to fill with President Suga leaving the seat in a shorter term than expected. However, the country has remained intact, and the turmoil has not spilled over entirely. There are numerous challenges on all levels that awaits President Kishida, and it is for the time to tell how best they are dealt with.
Notes
1. Can Fumio Kishida overcome Japan’s challenges? | TV Shows News | Al Jazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/program/inside-story/2021/9/30/can-kishida-overcome-japans-challenges
2. Challenges await as Kishida takes reins as Japan's prime minister | The Japan Times: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/10/04/national/politics-diplomacy/challenges-await-kishida/
3. Kishida a status quo prime minister facing escalating foreign policy challenges | East Asia Forum: https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2021/10/10/kishida-a-status-quo-prime-minister-facing-escalating-foreign-policy-challenges/
4. Fumio Kishida | The man on the throne - The Hindu: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/fumio-kishida-the-man-on-the-throne/article36797187.ece
5. Fumio Kishida should kick-start reform drive to meet China challenge - Nikkei Asia: https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Fumio-Kishida-should-kick-start-reform-drive-to-meet-China-challenge
6. The Arrival of Kishida Diplomacy? – The Diplomat: https://thediplomat.com/2021/09/the-arrival-of-kishida-diplomacy/
7. Japan’s Kishida: A Dove in Hawk’s Clothing? – The Diplomat: https://thediplomat.com/2021/10/japans-kishida-a-dove-in-hawks-clothing/
8. Post Abe phase in India-Japan Relations:
http://www.cescube.com/vp-post-abe-phase-in-india-japan-relations
Pic Courtesy-The Japan Times
(The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent views of CESCUBE)
