◎From the April 10, 2025 Issue of Shukan Shincho — Regular Column by Yoshiko Sakurai
The following is from Yoshiko Sakurai’s regular column published in the April 10, 2025 issue of Shukan Shincho.
This essay once again proves that she is indeed a National Treasure—defined as the highest of national treasures by Saichō himself.
It is a must-read not only for the Japanese people but for people all over the world.
That said, the crime of Fumio Kishida in giving rise to the worst, most disgraceful Ishiba Cabinet in the history of the Liberal Democratic Party is unforgivable.
At a time when the vast majority of the Japanese people were fervently hoping that Sanae Takaichi—possessing the highest intelligence and clarity of thought—would succeed Shinzo Abe as Prime Minister, Kishida was instructed, “Takaichi visits Yasukuni Shrine. That would provoke China, so Takaichi is absolutely out.”
At the last moment, he allowed the Biden-led Democratic administration to bring about the Ishiba Cabinet.
The fact that China gave orders to Kishida needs no further discussion.
That the Biden administration of the Democratic Party aligned with this and plunged us into this “unbelievable situation!”—I will never forgive them.
There are no figures more morally corrupt than Biden, Obama, and the pseudo-moralists of the Democratic Party.
◎America in Retreat—We Must Review the Three Strategic Documents
“Mr. Ishiba and Mr. Nakatani would at most be third-class officers in the Self-Defense Forces, no matter how hard they tried. Even if they know the performance of ships and equipment, or military technology, they do not understand strategy or policy. It is only natural that Japan’s defense strategy is stalling with such men as Prime Minister and Defense Minister.”
This is what I heard from several national security experts.
For reference, “third-class” refers to Lieutenant Colonel rank in the Ground, Maritime, or Air Self-Defense Forces.
It suggests that these men are wholly unfit for the roles of minister or prime minister.
What is concerning is that the current international situation is vastly different from when Japan officially finalized its three strategic security documents in December 2022—so much so that it demands a thorough review.
Yet Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has shown no such awareness at all.
Despite having voluntarily sought the post of Minister of Defense, former Defense Minister Gen Nakatani shows no signs of contemplating whether Japan’s national defense policy is appropriate.
Unless Japan fundamentally strengthens its national security policy now, the nation may not survive the crises it faces.
Neither the prime minister nor the defense minister possesses the sense of urgency required.
As a general principle, fundamental national policies such as five-year plans begin to undergo review around the third year in preparation for the next five years.
The security strategy is now entering its third year.
It should already be under review to assess whether the current course is sufficient, what may be lacking, and what needs to be reinforced.
However, Mr. Ishiba—astonishingly dull—is showing no signs of any such review.
Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the international situation has changed dramatically.
The United States has also changed significantly.
As citizens of a fragile nation, we Japanese must be more sensitive to these changes than any other people.
On March 31, a research meeting was held at the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals (JINF), led by Masanori Yoshida, former Admiral and current Vice President of Sojitz Corporation USA, and Fumibumi Iwakiyo, former Chief of Staff of the Ground Self-Defense Forces and current JINF planning committee member.
◎The Possibility That We Cannot Win Against China
The research group first highlighted how, by 2024, the alliance between the so-called new “Axis of Evil”—namely China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea—had visibly intensified in support of Russia’s war of aggression.
On June 19 of last year, Russia and North Korea concluded a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty,” reinforcing their blood alliance.
North Korea sent 12,000 troops to the war in Ukraine and provided artillery shells.
It is believed that 60% of the artillery shells currently used by the Russian military in Ukraine are of North Korean origin.
Iran has also continued to supply Russia with suicide drones and ballistic missiles to this day.
China announced a “Joint Statement on Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination” with Russia on May 16 of last year.
Since then, China has consistently supplied Russia with dual-use military-civilian materials—semiconductors, ball bearings, machine tools, engines, and more.
It has also supported Russia’s war effort by massively importing natural gas and crude oil.
Moreover, on February 24 of this year—after the inauguration of Trump’s second term—Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Xi declared that “China-Russia relations cannot be severed,” a direct move to counter President Trump’s approach toward Putin.
Even if President Trump wanted to end the Ukraine war in “two hours” or “six months” and focus entirely on a strategy against China, China is making clear that it won’t allow such a scenario.
Former Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, in his foreword to the FY2024 Defense White Paper, wrote that the international community now faces the greatest test since World War II, and that Japan’s security environment has become more severe and complex than at any time in the postwar period.
The previous Biden administration shared this recognition as well.
(To be continued.)