Hashimoto Asami's policy speech fully displayed her "Hashimoto style": cold voices within the party claimed it was "too ambitious and hasty."

"I just want to make it my political legacy. That's all I care about."

After assuming office in October last year, Prime Minister Hashimoto Asami delivered her first policy speech, which clearly reflected her "Hashimoto style." Half of the content revolved around her advocated "responsible proactive fiscal policy," with policies showing clear inheritance of her political mentor, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. This is the route that Abe used to establish long-term governance through economic policies known as "Abenomics." In foreign affairs and constitutional amendment issues, she also showed aspirations to continue Abe's achievements.

"Let's turn people's anxiety about daily life and the future into 'hope,' okay?"

At the afternoon session of the House of Representatives on February 20, Hashimoto Asami's words were met with enthusiastic applause. Within four months since the government started under "extreme caution," the ruling party now holds three-quarters of the seats in the Diet. In a 50-minute speech, there were no large-scale protests.

"All the ideas that could be included were incorporated." According to the official residence, this speech was the third longest in the Heisei era. The opening proposal of "responsible proactive fiscal policy" promised an "economic virtuous cycle" through public-private investment to drive economic growth and increase tax revenue, achieving a "strong economy."

The word "investment" was used 24 times

In the speech, the word "investment" was used as many as 24 times, with Hashimoto emphasizing the necessity of "crisis management investment and growth investment." To promote long-term R&D and equipment investment, she declared that she would "boldly proceed" with the use of funds and multi-year budgets, which have been criticized for their lack of transparency. Government officials said: "The aim is to improve the predictability of corporate policies and promote investment."

In her personal writings, Hashimoto wrote that "crisis management investment and growth investment" would replace the third arrow of Abenomics, the "growth strategy to stimulate private investment." Her words also reveal a determination to complete the Abenomics that had left a regret due to the third arrow's failure to take effect.

The key to promoting a proactive fiscal policy lies in the financial markets. Driven by the "Hashimoto trade" trend, the stock market has continued to rise, but at the same time, the market is concerned about fiscal deterioration leading to rising interest rates and further depreciation of the yen. "Now the market is the biggest risk in running the government." "The prime minister is very concerned about market trends." (Government officials) stated that the prime minister's office will continuously receive updates on market dynamics.

In the speech, Hashimoto stated, "We will not adopt an uncontrolled fiscal policy" and "will ensure market trust," revealing her concerns and vigilance towards the market.

"Beyond Abe: After Inheriting"

"We will create peace and prosperity, and carry out a 'responsible Japanese diplomacy.'"

In foreign affairs, the prime minister abandoned the "Japanese diplomacy in the center of the world" from her autumn speech last year, which merely copied Abe's statements. A person close to the prime minister interpreted: "This shows a new direction after inheriting the Abe line."

This year marks the tenth anniversary of Abe's proposed diplomatic strategy, the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)" concept. Hashimoto proposed an "evolved version" of FOIP, planning to strengthen cooperation through government security assistance (OSA) to provide defense equipment to the region and expand official development assistance (ODA).

On the other hand, regarding the ongoing tense Sino-Japanese relations due to the previous parliamentary responses about the Taiwan situation, the prime minister took a cold stance, only mentioning the traditional "strategic mutual benefit relationship," without any specific measures or willingness to improve the relationship.

"I just want to make it my political legacy. That's all I care about."

At the end of the speech, Hashimoto raised her voice to emphasize the constitutional amendment, expressing hope that the constitutional amendment bill would be proposed in the Diet soon, with more in-depth statements than previous policy speeches.

At a press conference on the 18th, Hashimoto said that the discussion and sorting out of issues related to the Diet were "ready," and that "as the LDP, we will persistently push forward." "I want to make the constitutional amendment my political legacy. That's all I care about." Officials at the official residence confirmed her strong determination.

"A country that does not actively challenge has no future." "Politics that only guards cannot create 'hope'." Hashimoto concluded her speech with radical expressions frequently used in the House of Representatives election. For this, a LDP-related person gave a cold evaluation: "Too ambitious and hasty." "Although it's full of prime minister-like rhetoric, politics can't be achieved just by rhetoric alone." Senior figures in the party also warned in this manner.

Japan's Prime Minister Nomination Election

Original: toutiao.com/article/1857741394263113/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author himself.