Is it that the Chinese Communist Party is instructing the Asahi Shimbun, or is the Asahi simply reading between the lines?
Or perhaps—have they already become one and the same at the DNA level? (laughs)
June 7, 2020
The monthly magazine I refer to here is essential reading not only for the Japanese but for people around the world.
After all, despite being filled with genuine journalism like this very article, it costs only 950 yen.
The following is from a featured dialogue between Masayuki Takayama and Eitarō Ogawa in the latest issue of WiLL, titled “China, the Wuhan Virus War Criminal Nation, Should Be Designated a Terrorist State.”
Masayuki Takayama is the one and only journalist of the postwar world.
Eitarō Ogawa, after writing a thoroughly reasonable critique of the Asahi Shimbun, was outrageously slapped with a massive defamation lawsuit (a classic SLAPP suit) by none other than that same media organization.
Despite the financial burden, he has continued writing without faltering.
Among Osaka University’s Faculty of Letters alumni, he is truly one of the most distinguished.
The Wuhan virus—which has claimed over 300,000 lives worldwide—this is a bioweapon.
What they want to hide is the truth.
Ogawa:
It’s been a while.
I believe our last magazine dialogue was about the Moritomo-Kake scandal two years ago.
Takayama:
It’s already been three years since the Moritomo issue started being debated in the Diet.
Yet the opposition parties and media still keep making noise about so-called suspicions.
Starting with Moritomo-Kake, then the cherry blossom viewing party, Abenomasks, and more recently, the extension of the prosecutor’s retirement age.
Ogawa:
The era name has changed, and the international situation is evolving rapidly.
And yet, only Japan’s opposition parties and media remain frozen in time.
In the middle of the pandemic, they even gathered—masked—for a “reinvestigation team” on Moritomo (laughs).
Takayama:
The Asahi ran an editorial titled, “Is It Appropriate to Call the Fight Against Corona a ‘War’?” (dated May 6).
Citing Trump’s self-identification as a “wartime president” and Macron’s statement, “We are at war,” Asahi smugly concluded:
“Some political leaders might seek to heighten a sense of crisis to strengthen their grip, aiming to restrict citizens’ freedoms and rights while securing their understanding.”
Ogawa:
Clearly, they’re trying to imply the Abe administration fits that description.
According to a poll (Sankei/FNN, May 12), 65% of the public support amending the Constitution to include an emergency clause.
The Asahi’s true intention to block any constitutional revision is plain to see.
Takayama:
China sees this moment—while the West is weakened—as a chance to assert itself as the new global leader.
Xi Jinping, more than anyone, is treating this as a war against the free world, pushing loyalty to the state and unleashing propaganda through outlets like the Global Times, as vile as the worst of anti-Western wartime rhetoric.
But Asahi doesn’t mention any of that.
Ogawa:
So is the Chinese Communist Party directly instructing Asahi, or is Asahi willingly accommodating?
Or maybe, like I said, they’ve fused at the genetic level (laughs).
Takayama:
Even China’s government spokespeople are confrontational.
When Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian claims “the U.S. military brought the virus,” his senior Hua Chunying follows up by calling the U.S. a liar.
Chinese media call these spokespeople “wolf warriors,” treating them as heroes.
The name references the Chinese action film Wolf Warrior, in which the People’s Liberation Army takes on a drug cartel, fights against ex-Navy SEAL mercenaries hired by the cartel, and finally defeats the Americans.
It openly portrays the U.S. as the enemy.
“Wolf warrior diplomacy” is war-era propaganda designed to stir up patriotic fervor.
Xi Jinping has completely abandoned Deng Xiaoping’s “hide your strength” policy.
Yet Asahi willfully turns a blind eye.
Clearly, there must be directives coming from Beijing.
Ogawa:
Asahi is as usual, but NHK isn’t far behind.
In late April, they aired a parody titled “Barrier-Free and Diversity Banquet: Satirizing the Cherry Blossom Viewing Party,” featuring none other than Shiori Itō as a guest, mocking Prime Minister Abe and Deputy Prime Minister Aso.
Even if this aired on a private broadcaster, it would be shocking, but for public broadcasting to air such a segment at that moment—unbelievable.
Takayama:
It’s because they want to deflect from China’s responsibility for COVID-19.
If there were no explicit orders, it’s a remarkable display of self-censorship toward Beijing.
Ogawa:
Either way, there is clearly an agenda at work.
Whether it’s to obstruct constitutional reform through government criticism, or something even more massive lurking beneath the surface...
To be continued.
