Japan's Ishiba stresses resolve to stay, avoid political vacuum
"I intend to fulfill my responsibility so as to never create a political vacuum for the nation and its people,' Ishiba said on Monday (July 28) at the start of a rare meeting in which the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's lawmakers have gathered to assess the reasons for the party's recent election setback.
The meeting, which started around 3.30pm local time, will give those in the party who seek a change at the top an opportunity to directly challenge Ishiba over his leadership.
In his remarks, Ishiba apologised for the historic defeat that the LDP suffered in the July 20 election, and he said he wants to do his best to ensure the recent trade deal with the US is fully implemented.
LDP Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama, speaking at the same venue, said he'll finish analysing the election's results in August and decide at that time how best to hold himself accountable.
On Sunday, Ishiba signalled he intends to stay in office even after the ruling coalition lost its majority in the upper house of parliament in the election.
"I intend to devote myself to the people and the future of the country,' Ishiba said in an interview with national broadcaster NHK. He added he wanted to ensure the successful implementation of the recently announced US-Japan trade deal.
New opinion polls show support for Ishiba's administration remains low, although surveys also suggest the public sees few good alternatives to the current prime minister. Polls in the Mainichi and Asahi newspapers published on Sunday both showed approval ratings of 29% for Ishiba's government.
The Asahi poll also found that 41% of respondents thought Ishiba should stand down, while 47% thought that wasn't necessary. The same survey showed that 81% of respondents thought the LDP's defeat was due to partywide issues rather than the prime minister's leadership.
Ishiba has also found support on social media and in small public gatherings outside the prime minister's office from members of the public calling for him to stay on.
Nonetheless, party members have been calling for someone to take responsibility for the July 20 election setback, which substantially weakened Ishiba's position.
For the first time since 1955, a leader from the storied Japanese party now has to govern the country without a majority in either of the legislative bodies.
Former foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi called for a leadership change within the LDP on his YouTube channel over the weekend. The party needs a "fresh start with a new leader,' he said.
While pressure mounted on Ishiba last week, the premier got good news in the form of a surprise trade deal with the US that carried relatively favourable terms for Japan, including the lowering of across-the-board tariffs to 15% from 25%.
The deal doesn't appear to have given Ishiba a significant boost in popularity. - Bloomberg
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Multicultural families in South Korea show signs of deeper integration, but disparities remain
SEOUL: Families with multicultural backgrounds in South Korea are experiencing greater integration into Korean society, with notable progress in children's education, household income and social inclusion, according to the latest government survey. On Thursday (July 31), the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family released the 2024 National Survey on Multicultural Families, conducted on a sample of 16,014 households nationwide. Under Korean law, a multicultural family refers to a family comprising an immigrant by marriage and a person who has acquired Korean citizenship by birth, acknowledgement or naturalisation, as outlined in Articles 2, 3 and 4 of the Nationality Act. A sharp rise in higher education enrollment was recorded among multicultural children. The rate of those entering college or university jumped from 40.5 percent in 2021 to 61.9 percent last year, a dramatic increase of over 21 percentage points. The education gap between multicultural youth and their peers has narrowed from 31 percentage points in 2021 to just 13 points in 2024. 'These statistics suggest that children from multicultural families are now transitioning from being recipients of aid to active participants in society,' said Choi Sung-ji, director of youth and family policy at the Ministry. 'We must now focus on unlocking their full potential.' Household income has also improved. About 65.8 percent of multicultural households reported a monthly income of over 3 million won (US$2,200), up from 50.8 percent in 2021. It was the first time this income bracket became the most common, marking a shift in economic standing, the survey showed. Longer-term settlement is also becoming the norm. More than half, or 52 percent, of respondents said they have lived in Korea for over 15 years, up 12.7 percentage points from three years ago, while those residing in the country for 20 years or more accounted for 28.3 percent. Employment rates for foreign-born spouses and naturalized citizens also increased, reaching 62.7 percent. However, 39 percent remained in low-wage manual labor, an increase from 2021, highlighting continued occupational stratification. Experiences of discrimination have declined modestly but persist. In 2024, 13 percent of respondents had experienced discrimination, down from 16.3 percent in 2021. However, most said they chose to "put up with it" rather than respond, reflecting a lack of redress or support mechanisms. Some 71.6 percent of youth and young adults (aged 13 to 24) hoped to attend a four-year university or go on to higher education, a 10-point rise from three years ago. Reports of school bullying dropped slightly to 1.9 percent from 2.3 percent three years prior, while discrimination reports edged up to 4.7 percent, rebounding from a drop during the pandemic. Cultural differences and marital conflicts between spouses slightly declined compared to the last survey, and more parents reported having fewer difficulties raising children. Among those with children aged 5 and under, 27.3 percent said they had no significant parenting challenges. For children aged 6 to 24, that figure rose from 11.9 percent in 2021 to 21.8 percent in 2024. The most common challenges cited were access to emergency child care for younger children and financial burdens related to raising older children. As multicultural families move toward long-term settlement, the government said it will pivot its focus from short-term adaptation to long-term support tailored to each family's needs. This includes educational programs, bilingual learning, psychological counseling and job training, to be available at around 240 family centers nationwide. 'Multicultural families should no longer be viewed merely as vulnerable groups,' said Choi. 'The change in perception that they are part of Korea's future in enriching our society with various strengths and potential is needed." The government also plans to scale up programs that help multicultural youth with an emphasis on career development, emotional well-being and social inclusion. The survey respondents included different types of multicultural households. Of the total, 72.8 percent were families with married immigrants who are foreign nationals or naturalised citizens married to Koreans; 16.5 percent were families with other types of naturalized citizens; and 10.6 percent were households without a married immigrant or naturalized parent, but with children of multicultural backgrounds. The survey, conducted every three years, assesses the status of multicultural families in areas such as education, income, parenting, employment and social experience. - The Korea Herald/ANN
Free Malaysia Today
11 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Pakistan says tariff deal concluded with US, Trump cites oil reserves pact
The US goods trade deficit with Pakistan was US$3 billion in 2024, a 5.2% increase over 2023. (EPA Images pic) WASHINGTON : The US and Pakistan have struck a deal that will result in lower tariffs for the South Asian nation as well as an agreement in which Washington will help develop Islamabad's oil reserves, the two sides said. 'We have just concluded a deal with the country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the US will work together on developing their massive oil reserves,' US President Donald Trump wrote on social media yesterday. 'We are in the process of choosing the oil company that will lead this partnership,' he added. Trump's social media post did not provide further details. Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar also confirmed the deal's conclusion on social media, without elaborating further. Trump did not mention any agreement on tariffs. However, Pakistan's finance ministry said today the trade deal 'will result in a reduction of reciprocal tariffs, especially on Pakistani exports to the US', but did not give details of what the tariffs would be. 'This deal marks the beginning of a new era of economic collaboration especially in energy, mines and minerals, IT, cryptocurrency and other sectors,' it said. Pakistan faced a potential 29% tariff on exports to the US under tariffs announced by Washington in April on countries around the world. Tariffs were subsequently suspended for 90 days so negotiations could take place. Last week, Dar said the US and Pakistan were 'very close' to a trade deal that could come within days, after he met with secretary of state Marco Rubio tomorrow. Dar and Rubio had discussed expanding trade and ties in critical minerals and mining, both sides said after that meeting. Other Pakistani officials have also visited the US in recent weeks for talks. Under Trump, Washington has attempted to renegotiate trade agreements with many countries that he threatened with tariffs over what he calls unfair trade relations. Many economists dispute Trump's characterisation. US total goods trade with Pakistan was an estimated US$7.3 billion in 2024, according to the website of the office of the US trade representative, up from around US$6.9 billion in 2023. The US goods trade deficit with Pakistan was US$3 billion in 2024, a 5.2% increase over 2023. Washington has also aimed to build stronger ties with Asian powers in recent years to counter its rival China's influence in the region. Pakistan is designated by Washington as a 'major non-Nato ally'. Trump also said Washington was still negotiating with Pakistan's rival India on trade after announcing earlier in the day that the US will impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from India starting tomorrow. Pakistan has also recently said it 'appreciated the pivotal role' by Trump and Rubio 'in de-escalating tensions between Pakistan and India by facilitating a ceasefire'. Trump has repeatedly taken credit for the India-Pakistan ceasefire he announced on social media on May 10 after Washington held talks with both sides. India disputes Trump's claims that the ceasefire resulted from his intervention and trade threats. India's position is that New Delhi and Islamabad must resolve problems directly with no outside involvement. The latest escalation in the decades-old India-Pakistan rivalry was triggered by a deadly April 22 militant attack in India-administered Kashmir that India blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad denied responsibility. India struck Pakistan on May 7 and the two nations exchanged deadly hostilities until the ceasefire was declared on May 10.
Malay Mail
12 hours ago
- Malay Mail
MoHE: Zambry's visit strengthens Malaysia-Japan ties, with focus on AI, semiconductors and student exchange
PUTRAJAYA, July 31 — The recent working visit by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir to Tokyo and Osaka reflects Malaysia's commitment to further explore strategic cooperation with advanced nations like Japan in driving excellence in higher education. In a statement today, the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) said the initiative is aligned with the development of the Malaysian Higher Education Plan 2025-2035, which is currently being formulated. According to the ministry, emphasis on technological entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence (AI), and high-impact technical, vocational and engineering education and training (TVET) is among the key pillars to ensure Malaysian students are ready to participate in a future innovation-driven economy. Zambry's working visit, at the invitation of the Economic Research Institute for Asean and East Asia (ERIA) from July 28 to 30, aimed to strengthen Malaysia-Japan strategic cooperation in higher education, research, innovation and technology. MOHE said key components of the visit included a bilateral meeting with Koichi Hagiuda, Chairman of the Policy Research Council of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The meeting discussed various strategic issues related to the challenges faced by modern universities and the potential for collaboration in the fields of innovation and the creative economy (orange economy). MOHE stated that Zambry also visited the University of Tokyo, where he was briefed on the AI Startup programme developed specifically for undergraduate and postgraduate students. According to the statement, the programme has produced many students who successfully established AI-based startups generating high incomes in their respective fields. The initiative is driven by Matsuo Lab Startup, which provides mentorship, a startup ecosystem, and access to the latest technologies. 'The minister said that this is a model worth exploring and adapting for implementation in Malaysia to empower students as value creators in the future economy,' the statement read. Zambry also visited the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), which provided the MOHE team with the opportunity to observe the latest technologies in semiconductors, AI and quantum computing. The visit also highlighted the potential for collaboration between AIST and Malaysian research institutions such as MIMOS, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). MOHE reported that Zambry met with the President of the University of Tsukuba, Prof Kyosuke Nagata, with discussions focusing on strengthening the university's branch campus in Malaysia and expanding its programmes to a higher level, including collaboration in the field of High-TVET. In addition, MOHE said that Zambry's preliminary discussion with Prof Ichiro Sugimoto, Dean of the Centre for Malaysian Studies at Soka University, opened new opportunities to expand the centre and explore research in comparative religion, as well as foster research collaboration between Soka University and Malaysian institutions. According to MOHE, Zambry also visited the Kaneka Osaka Plant, a high-tech research and production centre involved in the development of advanced chemical and biotechnological materials. Discussions were held on potential researcher and student exchanges between Malaysia and Japan to support talent growth in high-tech sectors. Zambry also visited the Malaysia Pavilion at Expo Osaka and met with Malaysian postgraduate students in Tokyo, reaffirming the ministry's continued commitment to the welfare and support of Malaysian students abroad. MOHE said the Higher Education Week concluded on July 26, 2025, at Expo Osaka with the theme 'Study in Malaysia', attracting 100,000 visitors over six days — a clear indication of the overwhelming response to Malaysia's participation on the international stage. Expo Osaka is held every five years and features participation from 158 countries, drawing millions of visitors from around the world. — Bernama
