ASIA: Biden reassures Asian allies while stressing new areas for cooperation
US President-elect Joe Biden had his initial calls with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the evening of Wednesday, 11 November. However brief, these preliminary calls nevertheless reveal im… Become a member to read the rest of this article Username or E-mail Password […]
JAPAN/SOUTH KOREA: Asset seizures remain sticking point as talks resume
Park Jie-won, director of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), traveled to Tokyo this week for meetings with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai, and other senior Japanese officials. Park’s visit is the fi… Become a member to read the rest of this article
JAPAN: Suga’s climate pledge catalyzes long-delayed debate on energy future
In a policy speech that largely stressed continuity with the Abe administration, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced that Japan will target net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The target, though distant, will force the Suga government to grapple with questions about the r… Become a member to read the rest of this article
JAPAN: Government Faces Growing Scrutiny Over Science Council Decision Process
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga continues to face questions over his decision to appoint only 99 of the 105 individuals recommended for membership in the Science Council of Japan (SCJ), an academic advisory body attached to the prime minister’s office. While Suga and his allies hav… Become a member to read the rest of this […]
JAPAN: Suga’s first foray into diplomacy highlights foreign policy challenges
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga welcomed foreign dignitaries for the first time on Tuesday, 6 October when his government hosted the second-ever meeting of foreign ministers from the “Quad” countries: Japan, the US, India, and Australia. While the meeting revealed that Sug… Become a member to read the rest of this article
JAPAN: Suga courts backlash with unprecedented intervention in advisory body
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga faces calls from both the ruling coalition and opposition lawmakers to explain his convention-defying rejection of six candidates nominated to an academic advisory council. The government has refused to explain why it rejected the candidates… Become a member to read the rest of this article
JAPAN: New government begins work on digital agency but pitfalls await
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has stated that he will prioritize the pursuit of a digital transformation, with a particular focus on creating a digital agency to oversee the overdue digitalization of public services. His government has already begun work on legislation t… Become a member to read the rest of this article
JAPAN: How Suga will manage Japan’s foreign policy, part III
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has acknowledged the need for a reset in relations with South Korea but is unlikely to close the trust deficit with Seoul. A diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea will similarly prove elusive, depending more on Pyongyang’s priorities than Tokyo’s…. Become a member to read the rest of this article
JAPAN: How Suga will manage Japan’s foreign policy, part I
As Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga settles in to office, the most significant outstanding question about his premiership is how he will manage Japan’s foreign policy. While foreign policy institutions will remain the same, some personnel changes could mean a more prominent… Become a member to read the rest of this article
JAPAN: Suga’s cabinet offers bland continuity but honeymoon is still likely
Yoshihide Suga was officially selected as Japan’s prime minister by the Diet on Wednesday, 16 September.Suga’s cabinet retains ten members from its predecessor, but the new members contain few politicians who will raise excitement about the government.The new government will sti… Become a member to read the rest of this article