Taro Aso: right-winger or just a right minger?
Whenever Japan’s new prime minister, Taro Aso, is mentioned in English-language newspapers the phrases “right-winger” and “foreign policy hawk” occur with startling frequency. What has he done to deserve such infamy?
Well, Aso is a frequent visitor to Yasukuni, the shrine where many convicted Second World War war criminals are honoured, and he isn’t known for keeping his views to himself. In a formal speech in 2005 Aso described Japan as “one nation, one civilisation, one language, one culture, and one race, the like of which there is no other on this earth,” which must have come as a shock to the indigenous inhabitants of some of Japan’s more remote islands, many of whom have their own distinct languages, cultures and ethnic backgrounds. And let us not forget the significant number of immigrants who live and work in Japan.
As foreign minister Aso relished antagonising the Chinese government. He once described China as “a neighbour with one billion people equipped with nuclear bombs and has expanded its military outlays by double digits for 17 years in a row, and it is unclear as to what this is being used for. It is beginning to be a considerable threat.” He has also claimed that the Japanese education system imposed upon the Taiwanese during Japan’s colonisation of the island was responsible for its current educational success: “Thanks to the significant improvement in educational standards and literacy (during colonisation), Taiwan is now a country with a very high education level and keeps up with the current era.”
Based on his current political track record Aso will find it hard to shake off the “right-wing nationalist” label, but as China becomes an increasingly important trading partner for Japan (China overtook the US to become its biggest export market earlier this year), and with the current global economic crisis, it seems likely that he will have to lay his personal convictions aside for the greater good of the country.
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you know, i’ve seen 4 prime ministers in my 4 years in japan. ^^
Ken, I’m sure you’ll see a lot more before you leave!
I don`t trust the guy. He has good intentions but he is just a bit to nationalist for me. Although, I don`t have a vote so I can only hope he does not last long. It looks like he will be gone quickly anyway.