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Fox News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump-inspired 'Japanese first' politician shakes up nation's establishment
Japanese populist Sohei Kamiya stunned many in the country when his Sanseitō party won 14 seats in Japan's Upper House elections last week. "From supermarket manager to bright political star … populism has hit the shores of Japan like a tsunami," Gatestone Institute senior fellow Gordon Chang told Fox News Digital about 47-year-old Kamiya's surprise achievement. Holding 15 of 248 Upper House seats is not sufficient for Kamiya's party to submit legislation. However, polling data shows Sanseitō's impact with younger voters, as Kyodo News reported that more than 20% of voters from 18 to 40 voted for his party. Inspired by President Donald Trump's leadership style, Kamiya's rise has largely been attributed to his social media savvy. He snagged his earliest followers through his opposition to "blanket mask mandates, mass PCR testing, and vaccine requirements" during the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan Forward reported. Kamiya has also adopted a spin-off of Trump's MAGA motto, proclaiming "Japanese first" as his party promises to strengthen Japan's culture, birth rates and food sufficiency, while finding solutions for its reliance on immigration. Though the Western media has characterized Kamiya as far-right, fringe or xenophobic, Lance Gatling, a principal at Nexial Research, Tokyo, told Fox News Digital that while Kamiya's goals of "protecting Japan, growing Japan, and educating Japan" are "fairly populist," they do not represent "a radical move towards the right wing." In fact, Gatling said many in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has dominated Japanese politics for decades, "are more right-wing than Sanseitō." Gatling described members of Kamiya's party as "pretty reasonable." Gaitlin said that Kamiya, formerly a reservist in the Self-Defense Forces and an English teacher, "doesn't appear to be playing." Kamiya "has been honing his message for some time," Gatling said. Some critics have expressed particular concern over what they call Kamiya's anti-immigration stance. Immigration, however, has become a chief issue for the island nation. When former President Joe Biden called Japan "xenophobic" for failing to increase immigration in May 2024, Kamiya responded on social media. "It's not that we're xenophobic, we are being cautious after seeing your failures," Kamiya said. "You are meddling too much in our internal affairs." Gatling says categorizing the Japanese as xenophobic "just doesn't ring true." He explained that the country has "one of the most astonishing cultures in history," formed by adopting Western culture and enriching it to create "a completely unique culture that has tremendous appeal around the world." Gatling says Kamiya is aiming for a return to traditional cultural values, while also lowering taxes and increasing food self-sufficiency, which is currently the lowest rate of all Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development nations at 38%. The rice trade would be critical to this arrangement, with Sanseitō eager to curb imports of U.S. rice. At present, imports of U.S. rice are set to increase by 75%, thanks to a $550 billion trade deal President Donald Trump signed with Japan on July 22. Another possible friction point in the future might be Sanseitō's desire to turn the nation's farmers into public sector employees, Gatling admitted. "The agriculture bloc is one of the most powerful in the LDP," he explained. "I'm not sure how many of the farmers want to be public sector employees." While he says that it is too early to determine the future of Sanseitō in Japanese politics, Gatling said Kamiya has stated he is not "interested in building a coalition government." Gatling believes the party's future will hinge on preparations for subsequent elections and demonstrating that "they have reasonable policies." Chang said Sanseitō's win was a loss for the LDP, which he says has "been adrift" since Abe's 2020 resignation and subsequent 2022 assassination. Current Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba "is weak and unpopular," and the LDP now finds itself "in the minority in both houses of the Diet for the first time since the party was formed in 1955," Chang said. "Ishiba is naturally catching the blame." While the political waves leave Japan "rudderless," Chang said to "expect Sanseitō to only get stronger, which means Japan will turn inward. Around the world, societies have had enough of large foreign populations that do not assimilate, so we should not be surprised that Kamiya will become even more influential. "Change occurs slowly in Japan until it happens all at once. Japan is now on the verge of an all-at-once moment," Chang said.
Fox News
05-07-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Xi Jinping's surprise no-show at BRICS Summit fuels speculation about China's global standing
Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend this week's BRICS Summit in Brazil, marking the first time the Chinese leader has missed the gathering of major emerging economies. The abrupt decision has triggered widespread speculation about internal political dynamics within China and the fraying cohesion of BRICS itself. China's official explanation — a "scheduling conflict" and the fact that Xi already met with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva earlier this year, according to the South China Morning Post — has been met with skepticism. Premier Li Qiang will attend the summit in Xi's place, continuing a recent trend of Xi scaling back his appearances on the global stage. "That doesn't make sense," said Gordon Chang, an expert on U.S.-China relations. "There are many other countries at the BRICS summit, not just Brazil. To me, it's extremely significant that Xi Jinping is not going. It suggests turbulence at home — there are signs he's lost control of the military and that civilian rivals are reasserting power. This is a symptom of that." Bryan Burack of the Heritage Foundation agrees that Xi's absence underscores deeper issues: "It's another indication that BRICS is not going to be China's vassalization of the Global South." He noted that countries like Brazil and Indonesia have recently imposed tariffs on China over industrial overcapacity and dumping, moves that suggest widening rifts within the group. "China is actively harming all those countries for the most part, maybe with some exceptions, through its malign trade policies and dumping and overcapacity." Some analysts point to rising China-India friction as a contributing factor in Xi's decision to skip the summit. "China has been at war with India for decades, essentially," Burack said. "These are fundamentally opposing interests. It's difficult to see China changing its behavior in the near term, and that will keep tensions high." India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to take a leading role at the gathering, potentially another deterrent for Xi's attendance. Another key leader — Russian President Vladimir Putin — is only expected to address the group by video. Formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China and later joined by South Africa, BRICS was envisioned as a non-Western counterweight to G7 dominance. It has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and, most recently, Indonesia, strengthening its economic footprint. Economist Christian Briggs highlighted BRICS's massive scale: "BRICS now comprises 12 full members and up to 23 when counting partners. Collectively, they account for over 60% of the world's GDP and around 75% of the global population. They control vast natural resources and a growing share of global trade flows." Yet despite its scale, the bloc remains ideologically and strategically fragmented. "It's a group of countries that hate each other," Burack said bluntly. "China is harming many of them through unfair trade practices. There's not a lot of incentive for real unity." The alliance's aspirations to challenge the U.S. dollar through alternative payment systems and a potential BRICS currency have gained media traction — but experts caution against overestimating this threat. "There's been a lot of fearmongering about a BRICS currency," said Burack. "But the interests of these countries are completely divergent. There's more smoke than fire when it comes to a currency challenge to the dollar." Chang echoed this skepticism: "The only country that can challenge the dollar is the United States. Weakness in the dollar is due to what we are doing domestically, not what the BRICS are doing." Still, Briggs offered a counterpoint, arguing that BRICS members are already reshaping global currency flows. "They're moving away from the dollar into digital yuan, rupees, rubles. China has launched a SWIFT alternative already adopted by the Caribbean banking sector — trillions of dollars are shifting." While its cohesion remains questionable, BRICS poses a long-term challenge to U.S. influence — particularly in regions where Washington has retreated diplomatically and economically. "China filled the void left by the U.S. in places like Africa," said Briggs. "Now it controls about 38% of the world's minerals. Meanwhile, Russia's economy has doubled despite sanctions, because they preemptively reduced reliance on the dollar." Yet Chang sees India as a brake on any aggressive anti-Western tilt. "BRICS has an 'I' in it—and that's India. Modi doesn't want to be part of an anti-Western bloc. As long as India's in BRICS, the rest of the world is safe." To some, Xi's no-show signals instability in Beijing. To others, the opposite: it demonstrates confidence in China's dominance over the other BRICS members. "He doesn't have to be there," Briggs contended. "Xi's power allows him to delegate. China is trading with nearly 80% of the world now. He's moving the agenda forward even in absentia." What's clear is that BRICS continues to evolve — its internal contradictions as visible as its geopolitical ambitions. Whether Xi's absence marks a retreat or a recalibration remains one of the key questions hovering over the summit in Brazil.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How Israel's attack on Iran has sent a shockwave miles away in Beijing and why China may not stay silent
Israel's strike on Iran's nuclear sites and the South Pars gas hub has not only shaken Tehran but has also rattled Beijing, foreign‑policy expert Gordon Chang told Fox Business . Chang warned that the blow to Iran—China's main Middle‑East partner—could trigger fresh proxy attacks on the United States. The raid threatens China's long‑term, US $400 billion economic pact with Iran and may upset Beijing's wider influence strategy in the Gulf. Any escalation could pull global energy supplies and shipping lanes into a deeper conflict, the expert said. Beijing's biggest regional bet at risk In 2021 China pledged to pour US $400 billion into Iranian banks, ports, railways, telecom and health care over 25 years. In return, Iran agreed to ship Beijing heavily discounted crude, according to an Iranian official and an oil trader cited by The New York Times . Chang argued that the partnership has turned Iran into China's 'proxy in the Middle East,' and the latest Israeli strike could 'mean that nothing is off the table to China and its military advances.' Analyst sees proxies preparing payback China buys more than 90 per cent of Iran's exported oil and supplies chips and other parts for Tehran's weapons, Chang said. He added that Iranian‑backed forces—Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza—all 'use large amounts of made in China weapons.' If Iran cannot respond directly to Israel, Chang believes Beijing will 'get either Iran or some other proxy to strike the US.' Washington issues sharp warning to Iran Live Events According to multiple media reports the US had ordered some it personnel to move out of the region before the Israeli strikes fearing a retaliatory attack by Iran on some of its bases in the Middle East. Posting on Truth Social, the US President told Tehran that failure to revive nuclear talks could invite even harsher Israeli action. He wrote, ' There has been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter….come to an end.' Military analysts now watch for signs of proxy retaliation in the Red Sea, Iraq or Syria—flashpoints where Iranian allies already operate. Energy traders meanwhile brace for possible supply shocks if tensions spill into the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil passes.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Israel-Iran conflict: China may ‘strike us' through proxies after Iran setback, Gordon Chang warns
China may 'strike us' through proxies after Iran setback, Gordon Chang warns In the wake of Israel's sweeping military strikes on Iran, foreign policy analysts suggest that China may be the conflict's biggest geopolitical loser. 'Iran being set back on its heels by Israel means nothing is off the table for China and its military advances,' said Gordon Chang, senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute, in an interview on Fox Business Network's Varney & Co on Friday. According to Chang, Iran has long served as a vehicle for China's foreign policy goals in the Middle East. 'The Chinese… they're losing their proxy, Iran. Iran has been accomplishing China's foreign policy goals for quite some time. And China's Middle East policy is now in disarray,' he stated. The comments came after the Israel defense forces launched Operation Rising Lion, a large-scale assault targeting Iran's nuclear and missile infrastructure. Explosions were reported in Tehran overnight Friday, as Israel responded to months of failed nuclear negotiations. A nationwide state of emergency has been declared in Israel in anticipation of Iranian retaliation. Chang warned that China may not quietly accept the blow to its regional ambitions. 'This is a point where China is suffering a terrible loss in the Middle East,' he said. 'It is not going to take that lying down, and it's probably going to get Iran or some other party to strike us.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo China's support for Iran has been extensive, particularly through oil and weapons trade. 'China was supporting the attacks on Israel across the board with elevated commodity purchases,' Chang explained. 'Remember, China has taken more than 90% of Iran's crude oil exports, but also provided weapons support.' He added that Chinese-made arms are widespread among Iran-backed militias. 'Hamas, Houthi militia, Hezbollah, all of them have large quantities of Chinese weapons. Iran's weapons are made with China's computer chips,' he noted. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump weighed in on the conflict via Truth Social, warning that Israel's next round of strikes could be 'even more brutal' if Iran does not return to the negotiating table over its nuclear program. 'There has already been great death and destruction,' Trump said, 'but there is still time to make this slaughter… come to an end.'
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Sever relations': Bioterror arrests spark alarm; US CCP expert warns China planning ‘something worse than Covid'
Gordon Chang talks to Fox Digital (Screengrab from video on X) In light of recent arrests of two alleged "bioterrorists" in Michigan, an expert has advocated for complete disengagement from diplomatic relations with China, warning that they might be hit with 'something worse than Covid'. "The only way to stop this is to sever relations with China," attorney and Chinese Communist Party expert Gordon Chang told Fox News Digital. "And I know people think that's drastic, but we are being overwhelmed, and we are going to get hit. And we are going to get hit really hard. Not just with Covid, not just with fentanyl, but perhaps with something worse." Chang addressed the recent case involving Chinese nationals Yunqing Jian, 33, and her partner Zunyong Liu, 34. The pair allegedly conducted unauthorised research on Fusarium graminearum in American laboratories whilst smuggling it into the country over two years. Jian held a post-doctoral research position at the University of Michigan, with her studies partially supported by funding from the People's Republic of China. The Department of Justice describes Fusarium graminearum as a harmful fungus causing "head blight" in wheat, barley, maize and rice crops, resulting in annual global economic losses worth billions. The substance poses risks to human health, potentially causing vomiting, liver damage and reproductive complications in humans and animals. "This couple should be sent to Guantánamo," Chang said. "This Chinese government has declared a 'People's War' on us." A "People's War" refers to a military strategy established by former Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong, who passed away in 1976. His leadership resulted in numerous deaths through famine and political persecution. This strategy involves sustained military and political pressure designed to wear down opponents. The authorities have charged Jian and Liu with conspiracy, smuggling, false statements and visa fraud. "We're Americans, so we think we're entitled to ignore the propaganda of hostile regimes," Chang said. "But for a communist party, [a People's War] has great resonance, and what they're doing with their strident anti-Americanism is creating a justification to strike our country," he added. "This means, for example, that this couple should be sent to Guantánamo," he added. "This was an attack on the United States at a time when China thought it was at war with us," he further said. In recent years, several incidents have raised concerns about Chinese espionage in the US. Chinese nationals and students have been caught illegally entering military bases, photographing sensitive sites, and attempting to steal trade secrets. Cases include breaches at a Key West naval station (2020), spying at Camp Grayling (2024), and drone surveillance of naval bases by a University of Minnesota student (2025). Separately, Harvard professor Charles Lieber was convicted in 2021 for hiding ties to China's Thousand Talents Program. Commentator Gordon Chang warned that such actions, including suspicious seed distributions, signal ongoing threats to US security. Former FBI supervisory special agent, told Fox News Digital, "Imagine walking into your local grocery store and seeing empty shelves where bread, cereal, and even pet food used to be," Jason Pack, "Prices spike. Supply chains slow down. All because a foreign actor deliberately targeted the crops that keep America fed. That may sound far-fetched, but it's exactly the kind of scenario that becomes possible when someone brings a dangerous agricultural pathogen into the United States. "It doesn't take a bomb to disrupt an economy. It takes a biological agent like Fusarium graminearum introduced into the wrong place at the wrong time. Food prices rise. Livestock suffer. Exports stop. The economic ripple effects are enormous," he said.
