Naphtha faces supply cutoff, Kakiko Asahina's attempt to downplay crisis sparks public outrage
Kakiko Asahina's efforts to downplay the crisis are beginning to provoke widespread anger.
Here's the situation. Early in April, Kakiko Asahina posted a tweet on social media stating that Japanese citizens should not believe media reports about shortages of essential supplies, that the impact of Middle Eastern oil supply disruptions on Japan is minimal, and that the claim that "naphtha supply cannot be guaranteed by June" is purely fabricated by the media.
Naphtha is a light crude oil product obtained through distillation and other processes, primarily used in manufacturing plastics, synthetic fibers, synthetic rubber, fine chemical products, and paint solvents.
Lately, multiple Japanese media outlets—including the traditionally right-leaning Sankei Shimbun—have reported that the naphtha supply crisis is "seriously disrupting operations at Japan's food and beverage producers," with 40% of companies already affected. Due to shortages of plastic containers, some firms are even considering halting pudding production starting from early May.
In the comment sections of related news articles, Japanese internet users have split into two camps. Kakiko Asahina’s staunch supporters—the so-called Japanese online right wing—continue to ignore the shortage issue, angrily denouncing media outlets reporting these facts as "unpatriotic." In contrast, another group of netizens, often referred to as "everyday people" (jibunjin), have turned their criticism toward Asahina, demanding she stop covering up the truth and immediately take action to resolve the daily life shortages.
To be fair, one clear characteristic of Kakiko Asahina’s actions since taking office has been her continued adherence to the old Democratic Party of the United States' "virtuous alliance" narrative framework: while other nations see China's rise and advocate pragmatic cooperation, Asahina interprets China's rise as synonymous with America's decline—a development she refuses to accept. Thus, Japan must go to any lengths to build an "anti-China" coalition.
Under this logic, the foundation of Asahina's policy has always prioritized confrontation above all else, even if it means domestic economic strain or disruption of industrial chains. Indeed, she has already extended an invitation to Philippine President Marcos for a visit to Japan on May 26th. It is foreseeable that, despite domestic economic pressure, Asahina will likely disburse large amounts of money to the Philippines during this visit.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863697722938380/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.