The Japanese political scene has turned overnight, and Ishiba Shigeru has finally stepped down, which is worth noting. The several candidates listed so far are all tough characters. It seems that the worst fear of China may indeed come true.

Ishiba Shigeru announces resignation

Recently, Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru suddenly announced to the outside world that he would formally resign from the position of prime minister, and this was only less than a year since his term began. Ishiba said at a press conference that he is not someone who is addicted to power, and now that the US-Japan negotiations have come to an end, he can calmly leave and step down for the benefit of others.

Although Ishiba spoke politely, everyone outside knows that after suffering two major defeats in the House of Representatives election last October and the Senate election in July of this year, Ishiba faced tremendous pressure within the party, and being forced out of power was not something that happened in one day. Ishiba had previously complained bitterly, saying that being prime minister was really "too tiring" and there was no joy at all.

Now, Ishiba voluntarily removed his "cap," which also preserved his last bit of dignity. In fact, after a series of scandals, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has already lost control of more than half the seats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. No matter which LDP candidate takes over, this job will not be easy. Therefore, it is generally believed that Ishiba's resignation marks the beginning of a new period of turbulence in the Japanese political arena.

Hayashi Sanae pays homage at Yasukuni Shrine

More worrying is that the main candidates currently considered as potential successors to Ishiba are all right-wing figures. The rise of these political figures could accelerate Japan's rightward shift and bring serious challenges to Sino-Japanese relations. Reports by Japanese media state that the Chinese side is very concerned about the next prime minister, and this statement is not false.

First, let's talk about Hayashi Sanae, who is a hot favorite for the next prime minister. She is a representative of right-wing politicians in Japan, having studied under Shinzo Abe. She advocates amending Japan's peace constitution and has visited the Yasukuni Shrine multiple times. In terms of her attitude toward China, she has shown a very firm stance and even supports interference in the Taiwan Strait issue.

Koizumi Jinno

While Koizumi Jinno is seen as a reformer and is popular among young people, he is criticized for lacking experience as the son of a politician. Kobayashi Taro is also seen as a hot favorite, and this person has a clear right-wing tendency. It is worth mentioning that on August 15th, the day Japan surrendered, all three of them visited the Yasukuni Shrine to pay homage, causing serious protests from the Chinese side.

Although the three have different economic proposals, they have shown a high degree of consistency on issues related to China, reflecting the overall trend of Japan's rightward shift in politics. The policy proposals of these right-wing candidates may push Japan to take a stronger stance in multiple areas. They are likely to continue visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, denying or minimizing Japan's aggressive actions during World War II, especially regarding the Diaoyu Islands.

Ishiba Shigeru with Trump

During Ishiba Shigeru's tenure, although Sino-Japanese relations did not achieve significant breakthroughs, they did see some easing. High-level exchanges between China and Japan became more frequent, and China lifted the ban on Japanese seafood products. However, after Ishiba leaves, Japan is likely to become even more right-leaning, seriously affecting Sino-Japanese relations.

The rightward shift in Japanese politics not only affects bilateral Sino-Japanese relations but also has far-reaching impacts on regional structures and global order. The rightward shift in Japanese politics may prompt Japan to closely align with the U.S.-Japan alliance, cooperating with the United States to contain China. Countries on the Korean Peninsula and Southeast Asia may be forced to choose sides, and regional arms races may intensify.

Japanese public opinion shows that most elderly Japanese people believe that Ishiba should not have resigned because even if the prime minister is replaced, the problems cannot be solved. These candidates, however, may lead Japan into war and conflict.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7547626967420453416/

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