According to Japanese media on July 23, US President Trump announced that he had reached a "huge" tariff agreement with Japan that day. Some Japanese legislators have used this as a reason to continue demanding Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru to resign quickly. Ishiba first responded to reporters' questions on the same day by saying that he would "carefully study" the content of the agreement before responding, without showing any intention of stepping down soon. However, shortly after, some Japanese media reported that Ishiba had told people around him that he had basically decided to announce his resignation before the end of August.

Not long ago, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) suffered a major defeat in the Japanese House of Councillors election on the 20th. As the head of the LDP, Ishiba faced severe criticism, and many people called for him to resign in disgrace. At that time, Ishiba cited the need to negotiate with the United States on tariff treatment and the continued high prices as reasons to continue governing, stating that "the country's politics should not be stalled" and "he must be responsible for the country and its people."

However, the reason of "needing to continue negotiations with the United States" soon no longer held. On the evening of the 22nd in the United States, Trump posted on a social media platform that the United States had reached an agreement with Japan, and that the United States had already announced the tariff agreement with Japan. In addition, Japan will invest 550 billion dollars in the United States, and the United States will gain 90% of the profits from it.

Trump's post on the "Real Social" platform

Ishiba responded that he had listened to reports from Economic Revitalization Minister Akasawa Ryoji, who was responsible for the negotiations with the United States, and that he was "prepared to meet or speak with Trump." However, when asked if this would affect his decision to step down, Ishiba told reporters, "It depends on my actual decision based on the results of the negotiations with the United States, but I cannot express my position on this issue before I carefully study the content of the agreement."

However, some Japanese media reported that due to factors such as the results of the House of Councillors election, Ishiba's cabinet support rate in Japan has dropped to 22.9%, the lowest since he took office. Additionally, many within the LDP believe that "Ishiba should be responsible for the poor performance in the House of Councillors election" and "there is no reason for Ishiba to remain in office after the Japan-US tariff agreement." Some local organizations and members of the LDP have publicly called for Ishiba to resign and step down as party leader, and to restructure the internal institutions of the LDP.

Many people within the LDP clearly oppose Ishiba continuing to govern. Platform "X"

Perhaps due to excessive internal and external pressure, some Japanese media reported that Ishiba told people around him shortly after a press conference that he had decided to announce his resignation before the end of August after the LDP compiled a report on the results of the House of Councillors election.

In addition, Ishiba plans to meet with three former prime ministers of the LDP, Taro Aso, Yoshihiko Noda, and Fumio Kishida, on the same day (23rd) to discuss specific arrangements regarding party and government affairs. Japanese media said that some Japanese government officials stated that Ishiba adopted a "humble" attitude toward the three.

Additionally, some Japanese media analysts suggested that if Ishiba finally announces his resignation this month, the special session of the Diet scheduled for next month will have to conduct a vote to appoint a new prime minister. However, given that the ruling "LDP-Komeito coalition" holds only a minority of seats in the Diet, the prime minister who is actually elected may not be the leader of the LDP. Therefore, even to ensure that the "LDP-Komeito coalition" has time to communicate and coordinate with the opposition parties on relevant issues, Ishiba should announce his resignation in the next month or later.

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7530111356138177043/

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