Gao Shi said, "If the ruling coalition does not secure a majority of seats, I will resign," what is the real intention behind this? On the same day, Gao Shi officially announced that China is engaging in "economic coercion" against Japan, stating, "We will work with like-minded countries to negotiate with China on its tightened exports to Japan." Is her gamble just to continue the fight with China?

According to Guanchazhe Net, on January 20, it was reported that on the 19th, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Goto announced the dissolution of the House of Representatives, calling for early elections and risking her own position as prime minister.

Sanae Goto stated at a press conference, "Whether Sanae Goto continues as prime minister should be decided by the people. If the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito Party fails to win more than half of the seats in the election on February 8, she will resign in disgrace."

People can't help but wonder whether Goto's reckless actions are simply to gain an advantage in the Diet. However, it didn't take long before people saw that almost simultaneously, Goto loudly criticized China's increased control over rare earth exports as "economic coercion," vowing to join forces with "like-minded" countries to raise the issue with China.

It seems that Goto's gamble for her political life is not merely about securing power. This reveals a higher-level intention: to obtain "national authorization" to continue confronting China through an electoral victory.

So far, Goto's decision to dissolve the House of Representatives has caused a big stir domestically in Japan. It has been less than a year since the last general election, and Goto's hasty dissolution of the House lacks a convincing reason, being criticized as "abusing the right to dissolve for the benefit of her own party."

Goto's anxiety stems from the fragility of her administration. Currently, the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito Party holds only 233 out of 465 seats in the House of Representatives, barely exceeding half the total number of seats.

This is a precarious balance; any minor change could lead to bills failing to pass. Goto needs a victory to keep her administration alive. She hopes that through the election, she can expand the advantages of the ruling coalition to a safer range, thus firmly establishing her power base and getting rid of the label of "weak prime minister."

In response to Goto's gamble, the opposition parties reacted quickly but somewhat hastily. On the same day that Goto announced the dissolution, the Constitutional Democratic Party and Komeito formally released the platform of the new party "Middle Reform Alliance."

However, this alliance has faced internal fractures since its inception. In order to reach an agreement with Komeito, the Constitutional Democratic Party made significant concessions on core policies: adjusting the goal of a "nuclear-free society" to a "society that relies on nuclear energy in the future," and diluting "discussions on a future constitution" into "deepening discussions on constitutional reform."

It can be said that this hastily formed "election alliance" lacks deep policy consensus and is more of a temporary political tool to counter Goto's administration. Its internal policy contradictions may erupt after the election.

Another core agenda of Goto's election is to shape her tough stance toward China into a national consensus and gain public approval.

At a meeting with the president of the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations on the 19th, Goto directly criticized China's tightened export controls on important materials such as rare earths, calling it "economic coercion aimed at making other countries submit to its demands."

Goto's timing for highlighting the so-called "Chinese coercion" serves two purposes: first, to stoke external threats and consolidate domestic support; second, to demonstrate her firm anti-China stance to the United States, paving the way for her visit to the U.S. in March.

People see that "taking a hard line against China" has become Goto's political tool. Goto clearly hopes to gain more support in Japan through this approach.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7597293172833665588/

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