
Those enabling genocide rub it in by attending Nagasaki memorial
Suzuki also disinvited Russia and Belarus last year and the previous two. He recognises atrocities, war crimes and crimes against humanity wherever he sees them, unlike the highly selective vision of most Western leaders.
That brave act last year earned him the animus of the ambassadors of the Group of Seven (G7) – or rather the G6 – and the European Union, so they boycotted the event in solidarity with Israel. Instead, they sent low-level functionaries in their places.
Western leaders then applied intense pressure on Tokyo to make sure Israel is invited to this year's 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city on August 9.
So Suzuki personally invited Israel and everyone else, including Russia and Belarus. Between Israel and Russia, one has as much moral authority as the other.
All this comes as US politicians have been busy helping Israel to unleash the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, which frankly defeats the spirit of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
Washington is going ahead with a US$675 million arms deal with Israel. This week, US Republican senator Lindsey Graham said on NBC's Meet the Press that Israel should destroy Gaza like Allied forces did with German and Japanese cities towards the end of the second world war.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Standard
35 minutes ago
- The Standard
Korea, US prepare for summit with details of trade deal unresolved
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung delivers a speech during a press conference to mark his first 30 days in office at Yeongbingwan of Blue House on July 3, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea. Kim Min-Hee/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo


South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
China needs smarter, not less, investment to unlock household demand
'Boosting consumption' has become one of the most familiar refrains when it comes to discussing China's economy. From official statements to think tank reports, the idea that China must pivot away from its decades-long reliance on investment and exports towards a more consumer-driven model has gained near-universal traction. However, this growing consensus risks simplifying a far more complex question: what exactly is the role of consumption in China's growth, and is its perceived weakness truly the root of the country's economic challenges? China's supposed failure to unlock household demand is viewed not just as an internal policy misstep – it's the structural flaw underpinning everything from global overcapacity to unfair trade advantage. Critics argue that Beijing's preference for supply-side expansion – more factories, more infrastructure, more exports – has crowded out domestic demand at the expense of foreign producers, justifying protectionist responses In more ideological corners, this economic trajectory is portrayed as the result of a development playbook that prioritises national power and industrial dominance over household welfare. The implication is clear: China will never become a 'normal' consumer-driven economy because it lacks the political incentives to do so. Ironically, even within China, the post-Covid policy discourse has begun to echo this narrative. Since 2022, 'expanding domestic demand' has re-emerged as a central theme of economic policymaking. That shift has been welcomed by many economists, who view it as overdue recognition that China must transition from an investment-led growth model to a more balanced one. Moreover, in public perception, building a 'consumption-oriented economy' has begun to sound like the end goal in itself – a necessary badge of economic maturity and a way for China to finally enter the ranks of developed economies.


South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Beijing ‘on high alert' for South China Sea disruption after Philippine-India patrol: PLA
Beijing is on high alert for New Delhi's involvement in South China Sea disputes after the first-ever joint patrol between India and the Philippines in the strategically important waters, which observers say may further complicate relations between India and China. The assessment was made as Indian and Philippine navies on Monday wrapped up their maritime cooperative activity (MCA), which coincided with a state visit by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr to India. The MCA involved three Indian naval vessels, including a guided missile destroyer and an anti-submarine corvette. 05:22 Why the South China Sea dispute remains one of the region's most pressing issues Why the South China Sea dispute remains one of the region's most pressing issues Two Philippine Navy warships, including BRP Miguel Malvar, a guided missile frigate that was commissioned in May, also took part in the two-day patrol that 'spanned strategic waters' from Masinloc in Zambales province to Cabra Island in Occidental Mindoro and highlighted 'the growing security collaboration between the two Indo-Pacific partners', the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) tweeted on Monday. Masinloc is a town on the Philippines' main island of Luzon, just 124 nautical miles (230km) east of Scarborough Shoal, a triangle-shaped chain of reefs and rocks that is at the centre of the recent maritime confrontations between Beijing and Manila. On Monday, AFP chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jnr told local media that 'several' Chinese vessels had been spotted during the patrols, according to the Manila Bulletin. 'We didn't experience any untoward incidents, but there were still some vessels that shadowed us. We expected that already,' he said, adding that he hoped the joint patrol would allow more joint activities between Manila and Delhi.