Drawing on a dialogue between Masayuki Takayama and Eitaro Ogawa in WiLL magazine, this article examines Japan’s China-dependent supply chains, pro-China business circles, two types of politicians, the limits of Abe diplomacy, and the necessity of moving away from China.

June 8, 2020
But as a major premise, China is a dictatorship.
It can break diplomatic promises as much as it likes, and it has no accountability whatsoever to its own people.
In negotiations, democratic nations are overwhelmingly at a disadvantage.
The monthly magazines I refer to are must-reading not only for the Japanese people, but for people all over the world.
After all, although they are filled with genuine articles like this one, they cost only 950 yen.
The following is a continuation of a special dialogue between Masayuki Takayama and Eitaro Ogawa, published in this month’s issue of the monthly magazine WiLL under the title, “Designate China, the War-Criminal Nation of the Wuhan Virus, as a Terrorist State.”
Masayuki Takayama is the one and only journalist in the postwar world.
Eitaro Ogawa, for a book in which he criticized the Asahi Shimbun in the most natural and justified way, was, unbelievably, sued by the Asahi Shimbun, which is supposed to be an organ of speech, for a large amount of damages, in other words, subjected to a harassment lawsuit.
Even while suffering great financial loss, he has continued to write essays without flinching in the slightest.
He is one of the prides among graduates of the Faculty of Letters at Osaka University.
Two types of politicians.
Takayama
A large part of the Japanese economy’s supply chain is held by China, and the damage from the coronavirus has been great, beginning with the automobile industry.
Despite that, is there not too little sense of crisis?
I have no expectations of the opposition parties or the media, but the government and the Liberal Democratic Party must discuss reviewing the supply chain.
Ogawa
Over the past several decades, an enormous amount of money has flowed from China, and pro-China forces have completely infiltrated the business world and the media.
Since Kakuei Tanaka, the LDP and the business world have colluded to pour an enormous amount of money into China.
In terms of the scale on which they sold out the country, the former Socialist Party, the former Democratic Party, and the Communist Party are not even comparable.
Takayama
So even under the Abe administration, the thick pipeline with China remains intact.
Ogawa
Prime Minister Abe is a balancer, so he will not go in the direction of joining thoroughly with America and destroying the pipeline with China.
Takayama
The Abe administration was trying to bring Xi Jinping to Japan as a state guest.
I thought it was insane to try to invite, of all people, a man hated throughout the world.
Ogawa
Yes.
There are two types of politicians: the Kakuei Tanaka type and the Yasuhiro Nakasone type.
The former are moved by money, and Ichiro Ozawa and Toshihiro Nikai are included in this type.
In a sense, their words and actions are easy to understand.
Prime Minister Abe belongs to the latter type, but in fact this is dangerous.
Because he is confident in his diplomatic sense, he thinks that, if things go well, he can control China.
But as a major premise, China is a dictatorship.
It can break diplomatic promises as much as it likes, and it has no accountability whatsoever to its own people.
In negotiations, democratic nations are overwhelmingly at a disadvantage.
Abe diplomacy has succeeded with democratic nations and moderate states, but it has failed completely when dealing with hostile totalitarian states.
There has been no progress on the Northern Territories issue or the abduction issue.
I believe that the trap in diplomacy toward China lies on that same extension.
Takayama
I see.
Still, it was good that Xi Jinping’s visit to Japan was ruined by the coronavirus.
It has been announced as a postponement, but will it not effectively become a cancellation?
Ogawa
It is 100 percent impossible.
The coronavirus turmoil that originated in China will continue for quite some time.
If China says only 5,000 people have died there, while 500,000 people die worldwide, then China is completely a perpetrator state.
In such circumstances, there is no way His Majesty the Emperor could smile and shake hands with Xi Jinping.
Takayama
I wonder whether the business people who were excited by the Belt and Road Initiative are reconsidering even a little.
Ogawa
Countries around the world will move toward running their economies without China.
But the Japanese are foolish birds who feel moved when China, in a weakened state, comes crying to them for help.
Takayama
In 2012, following the nationalization of the Senkaku Islands, a movement to smash Japanese companies broke out in China.
Even after seeing that scene, I was amazed that there were still companies wanting to advance into China.
Ogawa
As long as it makes money, anything is fine for them.
When politicians preach Japan-China friendship, they provoke opposition, especially among conservatives.
On the other hand, the business world quietly builds a honeymoon relationship out of sight of the people.
Takayama
Surely this time Japanese companies themselves have suffered actual damage and learned a painful lesson.
Ogawa
First, the government must take the lead in moving away from China and force the business world to follow, even against its will.
It should say, “If the whole world becomes infected at the same time, it is difficult for everyone, so let us suspend globalism for the time being.”
No matter how one looks at it, this will become the world’s consensus.
Before the coronavirus crisis, among world leaders, Prime Minister Abe had spoken sternly to China, second only to President Trump.
Regarding the Senkaku Islands, in Japan-China talks he repeatedly said, “Do not misjudge the determination and resolve of the Abe administration.”
That means responding to military force with military force.
As words from the leader of a nation, they are extremely weighty.
Regarding the Hong Kong demonstrations as well, after expressing concern in a Japan-China summit meeting, he suddenly mentioned the Uyghurs, and Xi Jinping was visibly taken aback.
It is Prime Minister Abe’s duty, taking the coronavirus as an opportunity, to reframe the strategic reciprocal relationship truly from the standpoint of the national interest.
This article continues.