Japan Echo Web

Hope for Japan or U.S. Conspiracy?

Hosaka Masayoshi: I personally have not yet made up my mind whether to support the TPP. If I’m not mistaken, Nakano-san is basically against it and Okamoto-san is for it.

Nakano Takeshi: So far, I have turned down offers to directly debate with people who support the TPP because arguments tend to get emotional and unproductive. But I don’t insist that my arguments are perfectly correct. Without trying to flatter you both, I thought that we could hold a meaningful discussion.

The national government has already declared that Japan will participate in the TPP negotiations, but I don’t think we should, for two reasons.

First, the advantages asserted by the government are unfounded, while the anticipated disadvantages are numerous. Second, things have proceeded before arguments have matured.

Okamoto Yukio: I believe Japan should at least take part in TPP negotiations since things are decided through negotiations. Failing to do so might lead to establishment of rules that are extremely disadvantageous for our country. In time, a huge economic region called the Free Trade Area of Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) is set to emerge.

Nakano: I know that not all economic partnership agreements are bad. But the TPP is especially awful, and that is why I think Japan should refuse it.

Hosaka: I have looked at the issue from historical viewpoints, and my impression is that the imperialistic method of Americans is not easily eradicated. Generally speaking, the sort of vulgar nature of American imperialism is again at work here, forcing all members to accept its self-centered rules. And this is the point I’m concerned about.