Abe drifts away from public opinion after a year in office
- By Chen Yan
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E-mail China.org.cn, December 31, 2013
Abe also tried to increase military spending to boost Japan's economy. Abe's desire for a "comprehensive mobility defense" will add another 99 armored vehicles, 17 new transport aircrafts, 52 amphibious vehicles and 3 unmanned reconnaissance aircrafts to the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF). The plan will also add 20 fighter jets to expand fleet's total number to 280.
Japan's defense budget for the next five years is 24.67 trillion yen (US$234.263 million); the country's tax revenue in 2013 was 43 trillion yen (US$408.33 million). More than 10 percent in Japanese tax revenue will be rendered waste, because in economics military spending during peacetime is regarded as waste.
Abe's advocacy for a "strong homeland" is at most a stimulus package for more infrastructure projects, an option used by both the LDP and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) during the past two decades, with little economic impact.
During Abe's first year in present office, people did not see many changes to Japan's economy apart from an increased military budget. Abe's apparent wish to intensify a standoff with China requires the Japanese government to provide much aid to south Asian countries. Such a political outlook is at odds with people's wish for economic recovery.
Because of distorted media coverage, many Japanese people do not hold positives view about China. Nonetheless, Japanese people do not like to see diplomacy that consists mainly of contention with neighbors in East Asia, such as China, South Korea and North Korea.
On Dec. 26, Abe made a formal visit to the Yasukuni Shrine to appease Japan's domestic conservative forces. His shrine visit, like his advocacy of Special Secrecy Law, demonstrated that his attempts to seek more support are clumsy because the public can easily see through his ulterior motives.
While Western companies cooperate with South Korean counterparts to explore more opportunities in China, Abe is alienating Japan from this lucrative market.
Japanese people offered Abe trust and support during his first year in office, but amid falling support, Abe no longer has the same energy and charisma he had during his election campaign. Abe's ability to lift the Japanese economy next year will determine voters' choices the in next election.
The author is the dean of China Research Institute of Japanese Enterprises.
This article was written in Chinese and translated by Chen Boyuan.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
