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Yomiuri Shimbun
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan, Paraguay Set to Conclude Strategic Partnership, with Pena to Visit Japan Amid Expo Festivities
Yomiuri Shimbun file photo Paraguay's President Santiago Pena Japan and Paraguay are likely to elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership and create a framework for periodic policy discussions, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and the president of Paraguay, Santiago Pena, are expected to reach an agreement during talks that will be held soon. The countries will strengthen their ties to maintain and develop a free and open international order, as China seeks to build its influence in South and Central America. Pena is scheduled to visit Japan from Monday to Friday to coincide with his country's National Day at the Osaka-Kansai Expo. Strategic partners share fundamental values, such as the rule of law and democracy. According to multiple government sources, the countries are likely to confirm that they will work together to address global issues as strategic partners. As for the policy talks, the countries are expected to discuss developing their relationship through economic cooperation at meetings of bureau chief-level officials, which could take place about every other year. Japan is likely to agree to allow Paraguayan nationals to make short visits without a visa. Paraguay, which is the only country in South America that maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan, is home to about 10,000 people of Japanese descent and is known to be pro-Japan. Paraguay has stood fast in support of fundamental values, and has criticized Russia's aggression against Ukraine. In their talks, both governments are expected to reach a broad agreement on an investment accord that would prompt Japanese companies to expand their business in Paraguay. Paraguay, along with countries such as Brazil and Argentina, is a member of the Mercosur customs union. Japan hopes to encourage Japanese companies to enter the South American market through Paraguay, as tariffs within the bloc are essentially zero.
Japan Forward
05-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Forward
Why Paraguay Is the Strategic Partner Japan Can't Afford to Overlook
このページを 日本語 で読む The world is becoming increasingly uncertain. For Japan, a resource-poor island nation that must always depend on others, strengthening ties with dependable partners is essential. Especially valuable are countries that share values like democracy and the rule of law, and that maintain a consistent diplomatic stance. One such country is Paraguay, in the heart of South America. Not only is it traditionally pro-Japan, but it is also politically stable and potentially a reliable partner in food and energy security. Japanese media rarely report on Paraguay, despite its location in the very center of the South American continent. Mario Toyotoshi, Paraguay's Ambassador to Japan, says, "President (Santiago) Pena often says, 'Paraguay's problem is that there are no problems.' That's why we're never in the news." Ambassador Toyotoshi's father, Naoyuki was the founder of the Toyotoshi Group, which deals in Japanese car sales. He served as ambassador to Japan from 2009 to 2017. Born to first-generation Japanese immigrants, Mario Toyotoshi was raised in Paraguay and graduated from International Christian University (ICU) in Japan. He briefly worked at Toyota before returning to Paraguay after one year to support the family business. Later, he spent over 30 years in Canada and elsewhere as a businessman, before being appointed ambassador at the president's request. Paraguayan Ambassador to Japan, Mario Toyotoshi (©Sankei) Paraguay has a population of 6.86 million and a land area of 407,000 km² — about 1.1 times the size of Japan. Around 70% of the population is under 30. Diplomatic ties with Japan began in 1919, and Japanese migration started in 1936. In 1959, following World War II, the two countries signed a migration agreement that allowed up to 85,000 Japanese immigrants. Today, there are nearly 10,000 people of Japanese descent or Japanese citizens living in Paraguay. Additionally, Japan has long been one of Paraguay's major aid donors. After the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, Japanese-Paraguayan communities donated 100 tons of soybeans. These were turned into tofu and sent as relief supplies to affected areas. It's also well known that soybeans became a major export for Paraguay thanks to contributions from Japanese immigrants. Paraguay enjoys long-term political stability. Its 2024 GDP growth rate is projected at 3.9%, compared to the Latin American average of 2.6% (before Donald Trump's tariff announcement). Its grain self-sufficiency exceeds 270%, ranking among the world's highest. Paraguay's electricity is fully powered by hydropower, notably from the Itaipu Dam, one of the world's largest, which it cooperatively shares with Brazil. The surplus electricity that Paraguay cannot use is sold to Brazil, making electricity one of its top exports. On diplomacy, Ambassador Toyotoshi says: "Paraguay's approach is values-based, so there's little ambiguity. We don't flip policies based on what's popular." This unwavering stance is most evident in its relationship with Taiwan, with which it established diplomatic ties in 1957. While most countries have switched allegiance to China, only 12 nations still recognize Taiwan diplomatically, and Paraguay is the only one in South America. Meanwhile, it's surrounded by nations with strong China ties: Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia. Also, Paraguay faces daily pressure from China. In December 2023, a Chinese diplomat who had received a visa to attend a UNESCO conference instead met with opposition lawmakers and publicly urged Paraguay to establish relations with China. The government cancelled his visa and deported him for engaging in activities inconsistent with his stated purpose. Such tactics are just a glimpse of Uruguay's broader resolve. Ambassador Toyotoshi notes: "We've paid a heavy price for a values-based foreign policy." For example, when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Paraguay clearly condemned the act as a violation of a sovereign nation. In retaliation, Russia slashed beef imports from Paraguay, which had been its second-largest export market. Taiwan stepped in to buy the surplus beef and is now its largest beef importer. Still, China continues direct efforts to win over Paraguayan cattle farmers. Paraguay's continued support for Taiwan is rooted in its Cold War history. Under dictator Alfredo Stroessner (1954–1989), Paraguay aligned with America in its anti-communist stance and received robust military and economic support. After US aid decreased in the late Kennedy era due to democratization demands, Paraguay deepened ties with Taiwan and Japan. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te speaks at the Double Tenth Day ceremony in Taipei on October 10, 2024. (©Sankei by Yoshiaki Nishimi) Even after democratization in 1989, it maintains its ties with Taiwan. Ambassador Toyotoshi explains, "Paraguay values those who value us," and "After democratization, diplomacy became even more important." Ties include Taiwan's ODA (official development assistance), EV bus plant investment, and engineer training exchanges. In August 2023, President Lai Ching-te visited Paraguay to attend President Pena's inauguration. President Pena returned the gesture in May 2024 by attending President Lai's inauguration in Taiwan. A new East–West corridor across South America, about 3,000 km long, is under construction. It runs roughly the distance from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Once complete, it would improve regional connectivity and reduce dependency on the Panama Canal, which is expensive and congested. Ambassador Toyotoshi estimates it could cut shipping times by three weeks. There are also plans to lay liquid natural gas pipelines along the corridor. Japan's chance? Paraguay hopes Japan will invest in two free trade zones on the corridor's western end — Iquique and Antofagasta in northern Chile. While they are located in Chile, they are central to Paraguay's Pacific access strategy. These zones could become major logistics hubs but remain underdeveloped. "Opportunities go to those who seize them," says the ambassador. "Paraguay is looking for investors," he adds. "Many countries are interested, but I believe Japan should recognize the strategic importance of these ports." One major Paraguayan request is for Japan to lift the ban on Paraguayan beef. Japan prohibits imports from countries with foot-and-mouth disease, and is currently assessing Paraguay's risk. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries says the evaluation is data-based and takes time. However, it's already been seven years since the request, and Paraguay is growing impatient. Even countries with weaker historical ties to Paraguay, like Singapore and South Korea, have shown interest in its beef. While acknowledging the complexity of the process, Ambassador Toyotoshi says, "I'm personally very concerned. Japan is Paraguay's most important partner, yet we're falling behind other countries." In February 2025, a tasting event for Japanese companies was held in Taipei. If the beef is processed in MAFF-certified facilities in Taiwan, Japan can legally import it. It was a creative workaround by Japanese, Taiwanese, and Paraguayan stakeholders. While it may be important for Japan to stabilize relations with countries like China that do not share its values, it is even more urgent to deepen ties with nations that do, before it is too late. (Read the article in Japanese .) Author: Makiko Takita, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
Japan Forward
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Japan Forward
Why the Rise of Lee Jae-myung Is Unnerving Tokyo and Washington
Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party, is swiftly emerging to fill the vacuum left by President Yoon Suk-yeol's abrupt ouster. On April 4, the Constitutional Court unanimously ruled to remove Yoon from office, citing his controversial declaration of martial law. Lee's ascent is already in full throttle. On Sunday, April 20, he secured a second decisive victory in the DP's primary. Recent polls show him outpacing top contenders from the ruling People Power Party in hypothetical head-to-head matchups. Barring any major shift in public sentiment or an unexpected alliance among his rivals, Lee appears well-positioned for the June 3 presidential race. Such a prospect, however, is rattling policymakers in Japan and the United States. Since taking office, Yoon has made revitalizing ties with Tokyo and Washington a cornerstone of his foreign policy. Those efforts culminated in two landmark agreements: the Camp David Accords and the Washington Declaration in 2023. But all of this now hangs in the balance, as a staunchly left-leaning — arguably anti-Japan and anti-American — candidate leads in the polls. From the outset, Lee has lambasted Yoon's Japan policy as one of "humiliation and subservience." He fiercely opposed the Yoon administration's third-party compensation plan for wartime labor victims — a workaround meant to resolve tensions stemming from the preceding Moon Jae In era. DP lawmakers hold a meeting denouncing Yoon's pro-Japan policy, calling it a humiliating concession. (©Park Chan-dae Facebook) In August 2023, amid Tokyo's release of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant, Lee escalated his rhetoric, likening the move to a "second Pacific War." Lee has openly called for scrapping the wartime compensation scheme and has questioned the safety of Fukushima water release on several occasions. Lee and DP lawmakers march in protest against the release of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant, denouncing it as nuclear terror. (©Park Chan-dae Facebook) Ruriko Kubota, a veteran journalist from The Sankei Shimbun , warned that Lee could reignite long-dormant historical disputes if elected. "We may see the wartime labor and other sensitive issues like the comfort women flare up again," she said. While Lee appears to have dialed down incendiary language, Kubota argues it's a calculated election strategy to sway undecided centrist voters. "For Lee, South Korea's establishment is synonymous with pro-Japanese collaboration," she said. "He's weaponized that resentment, turning anti-Japan sentiment into a driving force behind his political rise." "Animosity toward Japan runs deep, and it's dangerous to assume he's truly abandoned that position," Kubota added, cautioning against reading too much into his recent tone. Lee's long-standing animosity toward Japan has naturally extended into the regional security realm. In August 2023, for instance, while opposing deeper trilateral military cooperation with Tokyo and Washington, he said, "There can be no blind military cooperation with a Japan that shows not the slightest remorse for its past." His remarks notably came just days before the Camp David summit. Leaders of Japan, South Korea, and the United States meet at Camp David on August 18, 2023, for a trilateral summit. (©The White House) Even with escalating regional security concerns, the firebrand has branded Yoon's attempt to deepen security ties with Japan as an extreme pro-Japan policy. Such views are deeply embedded in his political record. In 2016, while serving as mayor of Seongnam, Lee described Japan as a "military adversary" capable of threatening South Korea's national security. Lee's steadfast resistance is rooted in two main reasons. First, he sees Japan's deeper military involvement as a gateway to remilitarization reminiscent of its imperial past — one that could ultimately threaten the contested territory of Takeshima [Dokdo]. The other stems from his insistence that security cannot be separated from unresolved historical grievances. Lee has repeatedly argued that meaningful military coordination with Japan must be "preceded by a reckoning with the past." Japan is not alone in its unease over Lee Jae-myung's ascent. Across the Pacific, American lawmakers and experts have voiced similar apprehensions. In a January 17 interview with the Chosun Ilbo, US Representative Young Kim said, "If the factions behind the impeachment in South Korea continue to steer the current situation, North Korea and China will seize this opportunity to weaken the US–South Korea alliance." Her remarks reflect growing concerns in Washington that Seoul's posture could shift dramatically under a left-wing leadership. CPAC Board Members Gordon Chang and Erik Prince discuss the rise of communist forces in South Korea during a CPAC event in February 2025. (©AT News snapshot) A recent vote in the National Assembly offered a glimpse of that trajectory. On March 13, 23 opposition lawmakers abstained, while 17 voted against a bill to strengthen military cooperation with the US. Ironically, most dissenters belonged to Lee's party — the same party that had introduced the resolution. Lee and his party's affinity for Beijing also raises red flags in the Trump circle, where containing China remains a core pillar of its diplomatic strategy. CAPTION: Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung meets with then-Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming, June 8, 2023 (©DP Facebook) Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung meets with then-Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming, June 8, 2023 (©DP Facebook) "From everything we've seen, Lee wants to take South Korea down a path of aligning with Beijing and drifting closer to socialism," said Gordon Chang, an American attorney and China expert. "If South Korea were to fall under a pro-communist regime, it would severely undermine President Trump's Indo-Pacific strategy." Beyond defense, Washington sees South Korea's leftward drift complicating collaboration in critical sectors such as civilian nuclear energy, shipbuilding, and economic security. While fears of unraveling hard-won détente between Seoul and Tokyo are warranted, some argue the current dynamics are more nuanced than the Moon era. "Political approaches rooted in anti-Japan rhetoric are losing their effectiveness," said Masatoshi Muto, former Japanese Ambassador to South Korea. "South Koreans are, by and large, becoming more favorable toward Japan, while Japanese interest in Korean culture, cuisine, and society continues to grow," he added. "The challenge now is how to cultivate this positive momentum." Other factors point to a more cautious but optimistic outlook. anti-Japan sentiment has been replaced by increasing anti-China sentiment. Japan Press Research Institute reported in a 2024 survey that 44% of South Koreans viewed Japan positively, marking a record high for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, negative perceptions of China have surged, especially among the younger generation. Much of the previous frictions, moreover, stemmed from the personal dynamics at the top. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Moon's relationship was defined by mutual distrust, with both leaders often benefiting domestically from their hardline policies. That tension-filled dynamic no longer exists. And so long as Seoul's cozy relationship with Tokyo remains intact, any serious recalibration with Washington remains unlikely. Author: Kenji Yoshida
Chicago Tribune
16-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
President Donald Trump says he's joining Bessent and Lutnick for trade negotiations with Japanese at the White House
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he's joining some of his top economic advisers on Wednesday for negotiations at the White House over tariffs and trade with a top Japanese official who is traveling to Washington for the talks. The Republican president said in a post on his social media platform that he'll attend the meeting alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, top economic advisers with a central role in his trade and tariff policies. Trump recently announced a round of global tariffs but then quickly put them on hold for 90 days after the markets tanked. The move put Japan's 24% across-the-board tariff on hold, but a 10% baseline tariff and a 25% tariff on cars, auto parts, steel and aluminum exports to the U.S. remain in place. 'Japan is coming in today to negotiate Tariffs, the cost of military support, and 'TRADE FAIRNESS.' I will attend the meeting, along with Treasury & Commerce Secretaries,' Trump wrote in the social media post. 'Hopefully something can be worked out which is good (GREAT!) for Japan and the USA!' Japan's chief trade negotiator, Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa, was headed to Washington on a mission to convince U.S. officials to remove Trump's tariff measures against the East Asian ally of the United States. Akazawa is to hold his first talks with Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer through Friday. 'I am prepared for the talks,' Akazawa told reporters at Tokyo's Haneda Airport before boarding his flight to Washington. 'I will negotiate in order to firmly protect our national interest.' He said that both Bessent and Greer are 'known to be pro-Japan and professionally talented' and that he hopes to build a relationship of trust with them. 'I believe we can have good talks toward a win-win relationship that will serve national interest for both Japan and the United States,' he said. Japan is among the first countries to start negotiations with the U.S.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump says he's joining Bessent and Lutnick for trade negotiations with Japanese at the White House
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he's joining some of his top economic advisers on Wednesday for negotiations at the White House over tariffs and trade with a top Japanese official who is traveling to Washington for the talks. The Republican president said in a post on his social media platform that he'll attend the meeting alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, top economic advisers with a central role in his trade and tariff policies. Trump recently announced a round of global tariffs but then quickly put them on hold for 90 days after the markets tanked. The move put Japan's 24% across-the-board tariff on hold, but a 10% baseline tariff and a 25% tariff on cars, auto parts, steel and aluminum exports to the U.S. remain in place. 'Japan is coming in today to negotiate Tariffs, the cost of military support, and 'TRADE FAIRNESS.' I will attend the meeting, along with Treasury & Commerce Secretaries,' Trump wrote in the social media post. 'Hopefully something can be worked out which is good (GREAT!) for Japan and the USA!' Japan's chief trade negotiator, Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa, was headed to Washington on a mission to convince U.S. officials to remove Trump's tariff measures against the East Asian ally of the United States. Akazawa is to hold his first talks with Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer through Friday. 'I am prepared for the talks,' Akazawa told reporters at Tokyo's Haneda Airport before boarding his flight to Washington. 'I will negotiate in order to firmly protect our national interest.' He said that both Bessent and Greer are 'known to be pro-Japan and professionally talented' and that he hopes to build a relationship of trust with them. 'I believe we can have good talks toward a win-win relationship that will serve national interest for both Japan and the United States,' he said. Japan is among the first countries to start negotiations with the U.S. ___ Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo.
