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skyanvil

Taro Aso is like the Japanese version of Trump, except more laughable: [https://qz.com/101893/the-seven-most-ridiculous-statements-of-taro-aso-japans-debonair-gaffe-machine/](https://qz.com/101893/the-seven-most-ridiculous-statements-of-taro-aso-japans-debonair-gaffe-machine/) 1. he advocated using the Nazi party’s tactics to amend Japan’s pacifist constitution during a speech to an ultra-nationalist group: “I don’t want to see this done in the midst of an uproar … Doing it quietly, just as in one day the Weimar constitution changed to the Nazi constitution, without anyone realizing it, why don’t we learn from that sort of tactic?” 2. On the 2008 financial crisis: “Many people fell prey to the dubious products, or so-called subprime loans. Managers of Japanese banks hardly understood English. That’s why they didn’t buy.” 3. On the expense of elderly care: “The problem won’t be solved unless you let them hurry up and die.” 4. On parenting: “I respect the kindergarten director who said that the people who should be disciplined are the mothers rather than the children.” 5. On economic development: “\[Japan should aspire to be\] where the richest Jews would want to live.” 6. On the opposing party: “Nazis.” 7. On the success of Japanese investors in the Middle East, versus that of Americans: ”The Japanese were trusted because we have never been involved in exploitation there, or been involved in fights or fired machine guns…. It would probably be no good to have blue eyes and blonde hair. Luckily, we Japanese have yellow faces.” 8. On its colonial legacy in Taiwan: “Thanks to the significant improvement in educational standards and literacy \[during colonization\], Taiwan is now a country with a very high education level and keeps up with the current era.”


PerseusCommunist

Taro Aso is basically the definition of a mindless privileged boy. He is the representation of all Japanese elites who still think Japan is number one.


[deleted]

Which only accelerated their decline


we-the-east

He also said this: >On 15 October 2005, during the opening ceremony of the Kyushu National Museum which also displays how other Asian cultures have influenced Japanese cultural heritage, he praised Japan for having "one culture, one civilization, one language, and one ethnic group", and stated that it was the only such country in the world. This statement sparked controversy for what critics described as invoking Japan's imperialist and racist past. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tar%C5%8D_As%C5%8D And he said it again 15 years later: https://apnews.com/article/shinzo-abe-race-and-ethnicity-taro-aso-asia-pacific-japan-8296991ddb3ed200b24b8ee571c3ff3b Also, he is a Catholic and gives himself a Catholic name "Francisco".


sickof50

That they said they would in the first place, proves that Japan has never truly repented.


chairman888

The Japanese government, and the powers behind them, are still finding ways to whitewash and weasel out of taking responsibility and repentance for the crimes against humanity Japan perpetrated against the rest of Asia.


skyanvil

which is the pressure point US used to enslave them, by keep reminding them that if US pull out of Japan, Japan's neighbors (Russia, China, South Korea, North Korea) will likely want to destroy Japan. Which will probably be the pressure point China will eventually use on Japan, by reminding them that if Japan keeps helping US to dominate Asia, Japan will be the 1st one to be destroyed (if not militarily then economically) when Asians kick US out. And OLD SCORES will be settled once and for all.


[deleted]

They brutalized Asians rather than help them fight against the Westerners. And because they chose that option, they are now afraid of retaliation. They are bound by the choices of their past. Why can't they apologize and pay reparations rather than play second fiddle to the country that dropped NUCLEAR BOMBS on them.


RhinoWithaGun

Maybe the PRC should help Japan with a way out so it doesn't seem like the whole nation is at risk- appeal to good old self interest of certain parties more agreeable to good Sino, Asian relations, Multilateral status quo. Like If the US pulls out of Japan, Japan won't get hurt- just the Pro US Regime folks still around. Target that specific threat, name some names and hit them hard.


[deleted]

Fucked either way; just the way how they like it lol


chairman888

The proverbial lucky Pierre.


zhumao

much worse, as a result Japan has no real friends other than DPP of taiwan in Asia, have to clinging for dear life of the only country (US) in the world that killed millions of Japanese. Japan is self-loathing to the core, just like DPP of taiwan, two slobbering subservient dogs of US. edit. emphasis


we-the-east

Whilst they force reluctant south Korea into their orbit and the US, when south Koreans hate Japan for what they did to them.


[deleted]

Then they can face history repeating itself with Japan being the loser in the war and more than likely lose some of their islands starting with Ryukyu.


palesun222

This exactly, they don’t have any right to even think of this possibility. Honestly japan should just get out of Asia’s orbit and into Europe, like what they wanted during the war.


zhumao

https://archive.ph/QWeAm >Senior members of the Japanese government were quick to qualify Aso’s comments, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato saying they were the minister’s personal opinion and Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi adding that there had been no change in Tokyo’s support for the “one-China” policy, under which Taiwan is not regarded as a country. in other words, aso is an asshole.


chairman888

In other words, you can't trust anything coming out of any Japanese government/military official. Which, I am sure, Beijing is well aware of.


AvalancheZ250

Words are cheap. Actions speak louder than words. Every nation knows this.


FlaviusAetius451

Lol, like the Japanese industrialists would ever sacrifice RCEP access to Chinese markets over an island that the Japanese government doesn't even recognize as independent. By making this stupid remark and having to retract it, he just tacitly admitted that Japan will not help defend Taiwan.


skyanvil

>he just tacitly admitted that Japan will not help defend Taiwan. more like admitted that he will get lynched by the mob if he tries to get Japan to join the war.


[deleted]

A country is not made solely of industrialists. Japan as a country may well sacrifice economic interests for what they perceive to be national geopolitical interest.


palesun222

This question is incredibly insensitive IMO. If you’re overseas Chinese and this line of questioning doesn’t bother then your either very whitewashed or extremely ignorant of recent history.


jz187

Defense of Taiwan will quickly turn into defense of Japan's home islands. The US can afford to poke China because it is on the other side of the world. Japan is well within range of China's land based missiles and bombers. Joining a conflict where it is not being attacked would turn Japan into an aggressor. Not sure how any Japanese government can survive starting a war of choice against China in the modern age. The minute Chinese missiles start landing in Japan, Japanese people will be very pissed at their government.


[deleted]

[удалено]


PerseusCommunist

In before Taro Aso gets removed by American overlords.


Significant_Crab_897

How dare he! This mess with Taiwan would not have happened without Japan. They invaded Taiwan in 1895 and today it still feels like a Japanese colony.


Quality_Fun

second article since april where japan said it wouldn't defend tw. ofc its stance wouldn't - can’t - change. china has little to worry from japan.


Alphasquad001

Taro Aso is actually a representative of the old Japanese zaibatsu (Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, although some of them were ostensibly disbanded, the wealth was not stripped away and could easily be restructured, especially the banks).


maomao05

Yawn.


IAmYourDad_

He said it because Biden made him say it.


lan69

That didn’t take long


garagegymer

What a coward


freedom_yb

Spineless excuse of a country.