Published on August 8, 2019. This article introduces a roundtable discussion by Sakurai Yoshiko, Kadota Ryusho, and Abiru Rui from the monthly magazine Hanada. It criticizes Asahi Shimbun’s editorial on Japan’s review of export controls toward South Korea, arguing that Asahi speaks not from Japan’s standpoint but from that of South Korea and the Moon Jae-in administration.

2019-08-08
I think Asahi crossed the line with this editorial.
It is speaking only from South Korea’s standpoint.
It has long been said that Asahi is a spokesman for China and South Korea, but this editorial made that fact clear.
The following is from a roundtable discussion by Sakurai Yoshiko, Kadota Ryusho, and Abiru Rui, published in this month’s issue of the monthly magazine Hanada, in its “All-Out Major Special Feature: The Regrettable Asahi Shimbun,” under the title “Asahi Shimbun Is Moon Jae-in’s Spokesman.”
It has finally crossed the line!
Sakurai
On July 1, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced “the review of the operation of export controls to the Republic of Korea,” and announced, among other measures, that it would tighten export screening for fluorinated polyimide, resist, and hydrogen fluoride destined for South Korea.
Until now, these three items had been given preferential approval without checks, on the assumption that South Korea was a white country, a friendly country, and that these were exports to such a country.
However, from now on, for each export, the destination, quantity, and other details must be submitted to the government and undergo screening.
Regarding the export restrictions mentioned above, Asahi criticized them in an editorial titled “Immediately Withdraw the ‘Retaliatory’ Export Restrictions against South Korea,” saying the following.
“Japan may lose credibility in future international discussions over trade, and the restrictions will adversely affect economic activity in both Japan and South Korea. To proceed with such restrictions while giving contradictory explanations is nothing but irresponsible.” “This hasty move is making the situation even more complicated.” “It is time for both the Japanese and South Korean governments to cool their heads. They should urgently seek a breakthrough through high-level consultations between diplomatic authorities. More than half a century has passed since normalization of diplomatic relations, and the accumulated trust and exchanges between neighboring countries must not be destroyed.”
In this way, Asahi criticizes the move, saying that “this hasty move is making the situation even more complicated,” but what on earth is it talking about?
Asahi speaks of “the trust accumulated between the two countries,” but that trust has already been severely damaged by last year’s so-called forced labor ruling, the radar irradiation incident, National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang’s demand that the Emperor apologize, and the dissolution of the comfort women foundation.
In addition, apart from such matters, there is a clear reason why Japan took the step of imposing export restrictions this time.
This measure is not hasty in any sense.
Kadota
Phrases such as “it looks rash” and “a hasty conclusion cannot be allowed” are Asahi’s stock phrases.
Asahi cannot win with concrete arguments or logic, so it can only speak in that way.
At the end of the editorial, it writes, “The accumulated trust and exchanges between the two countries must not be destroyed,” but when I read that sentence, I could not help bursting out laughing.
“Who was it that fabricated the forced recruitment of comfort women and destroyed the Japan–South Korea relationship that had been built up over many years? Wasn’t it you?”
Abiru
I think Asahi crossed the line with this editorial.
It is speaking only from South Korea’s standpoint.
It has long been said that Asahi is a spokesman for China and South Korea, but this editorial made that fact perfectly clear.
For example, when you read the JoongAng Ilbo or the Chosun Ilbo, they do of course criticize Japan, but at the same time they also write that the Moon Jae-in administration, which failed to respond properly, was also at fault.
Yet Asahi writes that “Japan is to blame.”
It is more of a “Korean newspaper” than the Korean newspapers themselves.
This time, it became clear that Asahi is a newspaper leaning toward the Moon Jae-in administration, which means leaning toward North Korea.
After all, all it is saying is that Japan should simply do as South Korea says.
Kadota
When you open Asahi, there are only articles and arguments designed to benefit China and South Korea.
Asahi’s purpose is always to make Japan concede and to bring benefits to China and South Korea.
I think there are many people who feel something is wrong with Asahi’s reporting, but if you read it with that in mind, everything falls into place.
In the first place, it is a mistake to think that Asahi is a Japanese newspaper.
This article continues.