00:00What's important for Japanese voters right now as they head to the polls?
00:04And is the LDP doing enough to address those concerns?
00:10Thank you. Thanks for having me.
00:12It's right in the middle of election season.
00:14I'm on my smartphone, so I apologize for the screen.
00:20But I'm going around my constituency.
00:23And what they are concerned about, economic sustainability.
00:26They're concerned about rising cost of living, inflation.
00:31But they're also concerned about Japan's role in the world.
00:34I think Prime Minister Takeuchi coming to her position and leading our country as the first female prime minister of Japan, I think, has inspired so many people.
00:43And her approach to diplomacy, her successes in her high-level diplomacy, has really inspired the Japanese people.
00:51And they're just as interested in our approach to diplomacy, national security, SAR, and economics as well.
00:59And, of course, you have a lot of insight on the state of diplomatic relations, especially within the Foreign Affairs Ministry, but also as you grew up in China as well.
01:08Tensions between China and Japan have risen recently.
01:11How do you expect that relationship to unfold under a new mandate by Prime Minister Takeuchi?
01:18I expect her toâwell, if she is re-elected, that means that there is a democratic will to support her continued stance on her policies.
01:30We don't expect that to change, and I think that is one of the main topics of this election, is that we are asking the Japanese people what they see as the most favorable diplomatic and foreign policy.
01:42As regards China, you know, Japan's policy in China has not changed.
01:47I think we have remained steadfast in our diplomatic relations with China.
01:51And we are asking our constituents whether that is what they would like to see or something else.
02:00How is Japan looking at the Trump see meeting that is expected for April in Beijing?
02:09How is Japan seeingâexcuse me?
02:11Sorry.
02:11How is Japan looking at this upcoming meeting between the leaders of China and the U.S. that is set for, you know, a couple of months from now?
02:23How do you think they view the U.S.-China relationship at this stage?
02:27In my role as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, I'm not going to get ahead of making assumptions about how we see other countries and their relations.
02:38But again, our foreign policy remains the same.
02:40The United States remains a very important ally to us, and we maintain a communication channel with China as we always have been.
02:47And it is, I think, important that all of our partners around the world and different countries around the world, especially countries like China and the U.S., continue their diplomatic conversation.
03:00And we, you know, remain keen on observing how that conversation will unfold.
03:07Is Japan looking for perhaps more support from the U.S.?
03:11More support from the U.S. in our relation with China?
03:20In general, I mean, as there's more pressure with Beijing, does that also mean that when Trump and Takeuchi are set to meet,
03:29maybe some commitments and reassurances on these longstanding allies might be required?
03:36Again, I'm not going to get ahead of myself on making statements.
03:41You know, on behalf of the government.
03:43But again, our government stance remains the same.
03:46We remain in alliance with partner countries, including the United States, who believe in the values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
03:54That does not change for Japan.
03:56And we trust that our partners, including the United States, continue to be in alliance with us in defending these values.
04:06And Japan, of course, has every right to speak about its own national security.
04:11And we remain steadfast in our right to in protecting our right to do so.
04:17Afiya, Prime Minister Takahichi has been immensely popular within Japan, especially among young voters.
04:23Do you expect that to translate into actual votes for the Liberal Democratic Party at a time when, of course, the party itself has suffered from a lot of different scandals and also controversy as well in the past?
04:35Can the ruling party leave all of that behind?
04:38That's a very good question, Sherry.
04:42My sense going around my constituency is that we are more popular amongst young voters than we have ever been.
04:50I do hope that they do turn out to vote.
04:53I am in the middle of election season, so I do hope that it does reflect into our elections results.
05:00But in general, not just because, you know, we would like to win, for example, but I think it's important that every single person in Japan is involved in democracy.
05:09And it's especially important that our youths showcase their own opinions, whether they support us or not, in the polls.
05:17And so what I'm doing in my own constituency, which is urban, is to really encourage young people, whether they support us or not, to show up to the polls and to have their voice be heard.
05:29Because we are talking about policies that will affect them the most.
05:33We're talking about policies that will have impact for two decades, three decades, four decades to come in Parliament.
05:39And I think Prime Minister Takahichi's popularity has really symbolized that to young people.
05:44I think they are now more interested in politics.
05:47They are now more aware that choices we make in choosing our leaders actually have significant impact on how we are seen in the world, how we see ourselves, how we may be able to see ourselves in our own leaders.
05:59This is true for girls growing up in Japan, a young woman in Japan as well.
06:04And I hope that that sense of inspiration that they have gotten from Prime Minister Takahichi will inspire them to go to vote, whether they vote for us or not.
06:15Afiya, a lot of the policies that are being talked about right now, of course, will have a significant impact on young people,
06:23given that we're also talking about temporary suspensions of taxes for food, for example, which will mean a bigger debt burden for future generations.
06:33At a time when the yen is so weak that households are having a hard time as well.
06:40Is the current government doing enough to really deal with these issues?
06:47Thank you, Sherry.
06:48I stand the same.
06:52I echo the statement that you just quoted from our finance minister that we are not advocating for an expansionist fiscal policy.
07:01We are looking at responsible, sustainable, proactive financial policy that will respond to the rise of living, the rising cost of living and inflation here in Japan.
07:13Hopefully, this policy will succeed and we will not have to do it for long.
07:17But I think that's what we mean by sustainable in that, you know, we are looking at what the government might be able to do to help the Japanese people in a steadfast and quick manner when they need it the most.
07:31But also what we might be able to do in the midterm and long term to really observe the markets to see in each opportunity what might be the best financial fiscal policy for Japan.
07:45And that's something that we have to these are decisions we have to make, you know, as time goes.
07:50We can't predict how our economy or how our financial status might be in 10 to 20 years.
07:56But what we can do is to respond to the rising cost of living right now and to make sure and to promise to our people that we remain responsible in making sure that these policies are also sustainable.
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