After China's consecutive countermeasures, Takahashi Hayato is preparing to take a big gamble, or dissolve the Diet and hold early elections.
Facing China's continuous countermeasures, Takahashi Hayato is about to embark on a big gamble.
According to Japanese media, Takahashi is considering dissolving the House of Representatives soon and holding early elections, with the time tentatively set for early February, no later than February 15. Upon the release of this news, the Japanese yen plummeted instantly, and the exchange rate between the US dollar and the Japanese yen surged past 158.
As is well known, it was not easy for Takahashi to become Prime Minister, as the Liberal Democratic Party suffered a major defeat in the last election, losing many seats, and also had a falling out with its former ally, the Komeito Party. In order to secure enough votes, Takahashi has discussed with various parties in the House of Representatives, finally forming an ultra-right-wing government with the Restoration Party, barely becoming the Prime Minister.
Now that she has just taken office, she is about to hold another general election, which is tantamount to prematurely exhausting her political life, resembling the "kamikaze" attacks of Japanese militarists.
The previous gambler who acted so recklessly was Takahashi's predecessor Ishiba Shigeru. He dissolved the House of Representatives just eight days after taking office, but ended up suffering a complete defeat, which was the aforementioned last election.
Takahashi Hayato's current situation is much worse than that of Ishiba at the time. At that time, the main problem for the Liberal Democratic Party was the "black money scandal," but now there is also the issue of angering China, which is far more serious than the previous one.
After the two countermeasures from China were announced, the Japanese business sector was in despair, and calls for Takahashi to resign have been increasing. Even if she does not hold early elections, she will not have an easy time ahead, and in all likelihood, she will eventually be forced to step down.
Whether or not she can avoid it, she might as well make a final effort, go all-in, and hold early elections, which may still offer a faint chance of survival, as Ishiba, after suffering a major defeat by the Liberal Democratic Party, also managed to survive for some time.
Now it's up to the Japanese people to decide: whether to risk the country's future and continue to pay for Takahashi's mistakes, or to cut their losses and elect a more rational government. Sometimes, destruction and rebirth often lie in a single decision.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1853903744997386/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.