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Analysis: Xi Jinping reaches out to his fellow 'red aristocrats'
Xi Jinping last week attended a big event along with many of his fellow "red aristocrats" who have propped up his administration. For the supreme leader who has concentrated most of China's political power in his own hands, it was an opportunity to call for unity and support.
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Japan Times
11 hours ago
- Japan Times
As rice shortage hits donations, food banks urge politicians to tackle poverty
With rice shortages hitting vulnerable people especially hard ahead of Sunday's Upper House election, nonprofit groups are emphasizing the need for political leadership capable of taking effective measures against poverty. Food banks are struggling to secure rice and other food items to distribute to people in need as inflation has put a dent in donations. With measures to fight inflation high on the agenda in the Upper House election, food bank officials are calling for steps to tackle poverty amid growing economic gaps and a rising number of people having difficulties making ends meet. About 100 people waited in line in Tokyo's Sumida Park on June 15 to receive bento boxed meals with ingredients including donated food items. "I feel that poverty is spreading," said Mitsuo Nakamura, a 74-year-old member of Asile, an association based in Tokyo's Arakawa Ward that distributed the meals. "Political parties should create places to listen to the voices of people in need." Stay updated on Japan's rice crisis. Quality journalism is more crucial than ever. Help us get the story right. For a limited time, we're offering a discounted subscription plan. Unlimited access US$30 US$18 /mo FOREVER subscribe NOW "Assistance helps because I live on welfare," said an unemployed man in his 50s who was among those in line. "I want tax money to be spent on those who are really in need." An unemployed man in his 40s sought "policies that do not lead to higher prices" from candidates in the Upper House election. Asile members started food bank operations in Kanto in 2000, providing about one ton of rice a month to cafeterias that serve needy children for free or at low prices and facilities for the elderly. With donations decreasing since last autumn due to inflation, however, Asile was left with no rice at the end of March and was unable to distribute rice in April. The group resumed rice deliveries in May thanks to donor support but still struggles amid shortages of the staple, Asile officials said. According to a survey of food banks across Japan conducted in July last year by Food Bank Sendai, about 60% of 66 responding groups said that donations were on the decline due to rising prices in recent years. Reduced rice donations were cited by some 70%, according to the nonprofit organization based in Miyagi Prefecture. In fiscal 2024, the nonprofit organization provided support to a record of some 7,100 individuals, up about 40% from the previous year. At the same time, donations of rice have been insufficient. For fiscal 2025, the group is receiving rice from the government's stockpiles for free under a program launched this spring but still expects shortages. "More people than ever are having difficulty making ends meet," said Takahiro Kawakubo, 38, an executive of the group. "Even a small price increase could be fatal to people in need," Kawakubo added, urging politicians to pay attention to poverty and take measures such as raising social security benefits.
NHK
12 hours ago
- NHK
Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba meets US Treasury Secretary Bessent
Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has met US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Tokyo. Ishiba called for continued tariff negotiations so the two countries can reach a deal that benefits both sides. Bessent is visiting Japan to attend the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, western Japan. Ishiba welcomed him at the Prime Minister's Office on Friday. They posed for photos before heading for talks that lasted over 30 minutes. Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei joined the meeting. He is serving as Japan's top negotiator on the US tariffs. Ishiba and Bessent affirmed that the two countries will seek stronger ties on the economy, security and other areas. After the meeting, Ishiba told reporters he asked Bessent to continue negotiations energetically with Akazawa, in order to reach an agreement that benefits both sides. Ishiba said that although no date has been set for a meeting or other form of contact with US President Donald Trump, he believes there will of course be an opportunity for him to directly talk with the president, with Japan's national interest at stake. Trump has notified Ishiba that he plans to impose a tariff of 25 percent on Japanese imports from August 1. The Japanese government is hoping to reach an agreement with the Trump administration by communicating at various levels. But government sources say Bessent will not engage in ministerial talks with Japan during this visit, as he is making the trip as part of the US delegation to the World Expo. The sources say Washington is now studying Tokyo's proposal to make massive investments and import more American goods to reduce the trade deficit the United States has with Japan. The Japanese government is said to be considering sending Akazawa back to the US soon to seek progress in negotiations.
Japan Times
13 hours ago
- Japan Times
Concerns grow in Japan over possible Russian interference in Sunday's election
Suspicions are rising that Russia may be manipulating information via social media during the Upper House election campaign as voters prepare to head to the polls on Sunday. The allegations came to light when a blog post by Ichiro Yamamoto, a member of the think tank Japan Institute of Law and Information Systems, went viral on Tuesday. In it, he said anti-government propaganda by Russian bot accounts was what made the small far-right party Sanseito so popular leading up to the election. Yamamoto raised concerns that Saya, a Sanseito candidate in the Tokyo district, appeared in an interview on Sputnik, a Russian government-affiliated news agency, on Monday. In the post, Yamamoto stated that Russian bot accounts on various social media platforms, including X, TikTok and Instagram, have been spreading false information and criticism about major government officials including Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya to manipulate public impressions. Such posts would attract large numbers of likes and then be spread to many users on the respective platforms despite most of it being fake news, according to Yamamoto. On Tuesday, digital minister Masaaki Taira said in a news conference that he has received reports about foreign intervention concerning the Upper House race. Although he declined to comment on specific cases, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kazuhiko Aoki said in a news conference on Wednesday that Japan is taking measures on the premise that it is 'the target of foreign influence operations.' In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of cases in which Russian and Chinese influence has been seen in attempts to shape public opinion through the dissemination of fake news, said Tomoko Nagasako, a visiting research fellow at the Institute of Information Security. Examples include Japan's release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in 2023. Regarding the Upper House election, Nagasako said there is 'no mistake' that the bot network with Russian ties has been disseminating fake information online. 'With Sanseito's appearance on Sputnik, there are allegations that it may be working for Russia, but we don't really know that so far,' said Nagasako. 'However, I think there is a strong possibility that (the party) is being used because it is making claims that are easy to use to encourage the social division that Russia is aiming for.' According to Nagasako, research shows that feelings of anger are a top driving factor for people to share information. Therefore, during an election campaign, posts containing disinformation aim to entice people using topics considered to be controversial, such as defense and diplomacy. 'By manipulating our perceptions, they aim to change our voting behavior, and by aiming to change our behavior, they are aiming to achieve favorable results for their country by creating division in the (targeted) country,' she added. But Yusuke Ishikawa, a researcher at the Institute of Geoeconomics, is skeptical whether the manipulation of impressions has as much of an effect on public opinion as people think. 'Just because there is a possibility of information manipulation from abroad, I don't think we need to overestimate the effects of it,' said Ishikawa. 'In fact, there have been recent studies that warn that it is better not to overestimate it.' That said, it is important to be aware of the threat of disinformation, which often crops up during times of uncertainties such as elections or even natural disasters, he said. Compared to English-speaking countries, Japan had been less of a target due to the language barrier. However, with the development of AI, such attacks have become easier. 'As for future measures, fact-checking and media literacy are important, and it is also necessary to consider what legal measures can be taken, but I think it is important to consider measures from multiple perspectives rather than relying on these alone,' said Ishikawa.
