＜prologue＞
I started a blog called “The Baby Boomer Generation’s Miscellaneous Blog”（Dankai-sedai no garakutatyou:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳） in July 2018, about a year before I fully retired. More than six years have passed since then, and the number of articles has increased considerably.
So, in order to make them accessible to people who don’t understand Japanese, I decided to translate my past articles into English and publish them.
It may sound a bit exaggerated, but I would like to make this my life’s work.
It should be noted that haiku and waka （Japanese short fixed form poems） are quite difficult to translate into English, so some parts are written in Japanese.
If you are interested in haiku or waka and would like to know more, please read introductory or specialized books on haiku or waka written in English.
I also write many articles about the Japanese language. I would be happy if these inspire more people to want to learn Japanese.
my blog’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳 | 団塊世代が雑学や面白い話を発信しています
my X’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多帳（@historia49) on X
(Reference) Original article in Japanese
・「経済安全保障」とは何か？これは「経済戦争」であり今の日本の喫緊の課題！
Recently, the keyword “economic security” has become increasingly common.
The appointment of 46-year-old Takayuki Kobayashi (former Ministry of Finance official, elected three times) to the newly created position of “Minister in charge of Economic Security” in the Kishida Fumio Cabinet, which was inaugurated on October 4, 2021, has brought the term into the spotlight.
1. What is “Economic Security”?
While the term “economic security” can broadly refer to “individual economic security (economic stability)” (a state of having a stable income or other resources to support one’s current and foreseeable future standard of living), here we will focus on “national economic security.”
National “economic security” refers to “the ability of a nation-state to develop its national economy in a desirable manner according to its chosen policies.”
Historically, the conquest of nations enriched the conquerors through plunder, acquisition of new resources, and expansion of trade through the management of the conquered nation’s economy.
Under today’s complex international trading system, characterized by multilateral agreements, interdependence, and a stable supply of natural resources, economic security, like military policy, is an essential part of national security.
Economic security has been proposed as a crucial determinant of international relations, particularly in the context of oil geopolitics within U.S. foreign policy, especially since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The current U.S.-China power struggle began with the fundamental premise of resolving the issue without military countermeasures. Instead, the conflict became an “economic war” (a war fought using economics), where the outcome was decided by a clash of “economics” as a tool. This is where the concept of “economic security” becomes indispensable.
While “security” often conjures up images of military matters, like the US-Soviet Cold War, the threat of military conflict has now receded due to so-called nuclear deterrence. As a result, “economics” has become the weapon, and the conflict has become a “war fought using economics.”
In Canada, threats to the nation’s overall economic security are considered economic espionage, defined as “illegal, secret, or coercive activities by foreign governments to gain unauthorized access to economic information, such as proprietary information and technology, for economic gain.”
In Japan, too, policy proposals from an economic security perspective are emerging, such as the establishment of a new “Economic Section” within the National Security Secretariat, which supports the National Security Council, in April 2020. The Liberal Democratic Party is also preparing to draft a “Comprehensive Economic Security Promotion Bill.”
Previously, the GHQ, which occupied and governed post-war Japan, neutralized the Japanese people through the implementation of the “WGIP,” a Japanese brainwashing program that was one of the methods of “psychological warfare.” While he himself believed the occupation marked the end of the war, for GHQ it meant the end of military warfare and the beginning of a new stage of political and psychological warfare.
Many Japanese citizens, still naively believing in the preamble to the Japanese Constitution which states, “We are determined to preserve our security and existence, trusting in the justice and faith of peace-loving peoples of the world,” reflect a similar tendency in media discourse.
However, Japan is currently in the midst of an economic war. The threats from China, Russia, and North Korea are clear. Western countries, too, are essentially “first-rate countries.” Therefore, Japan must avoid excessive reliance on the West and needs a shrewd strategy.
Currently, it’s often said that “COVID-19 countermeasures are the top priority,” but this is an “infodemic” or “COVID-19 frenzy.” If the infectious disease designation is changed from Category 2 to Category 5, there will be no need to worry about medical strain or collapse even if a “sixth wave” comes.
Rather, “economic security” is the top priority, and I believe that many citizens, including the mass media, need to break free from the shackles and brainwashing of “WGIP” as soon as possible.
2. Main Challenges of Japan’s “Economic Security”
The current challenges facing Japan’s “economic security” are as described above.
First, there are areas where the economy and security are closely intertwined, such as preventing the leakage of technologies that can be used for military purposes and export controls. Artificial intelligence (AI), next-generation communication standards like 5G, drones, semiconductors, and the Global Positioning System (GPS) can be used not only by private companies but also by weapons manufacturers. In some cases, trade restrictions could threaten the very existence of a nation.
China is employing a strategy called “economic statecraft,” which involves using economic means to influence the diplomacy and corporate activities of other countries. In response, the US, Europe, and Japan have begun to protect their own companies and tighten government procurement regulations.
In 2019, the US prohibited government agencies from procuring products from Chinese companies such as Huawei under the National Defense Authorization Act.
The Japanese government also decided in 2019 not to procure telecommunications equipment that poses security risks across all ministries. In April 2020, it established an economic team specializing in economic security within the National Security Secretariat (NSS). A team of approximately 20 people is considering measures to prevent the leakage of cutting-edge technologies.
Reviewing supply chains that are excessively dependent on China, as revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic, is also crucial. “Bringing manufacturing back to Japan” and “improving food self-sufficiency” are essential.
Furthermore, the acquisition of land such as forests in Hokkaido by Chinese nationals is problematic from the perspective of “water resources,” and the acquisition of land in Tsushima by South Koreans is a major security issue.
3. Domestic responses to “economic security”
“Economic security,” which Prime Minister Kishida emphasizes, is related to every aspect of our daily lives, and now even extends to “masks,” which are indispensable.
Last year, the mask shortage seen throughout Japan was due to the fact that Chinese-made masks, which accounted for 70% of domestic distribution, were not entering Japan. A company that handles the domestic sale of Chinese-made masks recalls that time as follows:
First Rate President Tomohiko Hasegawa: “For security reasons, the Chinese government and police were stationed at the factory 24 hours a day. In some cases, we were told, ‘If you export illegally, you will be arrested.’ Currently, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe we cannot survive without significant stockpiling.”
“The risk of relying on a specific country for supply” and “the possibility that essential goods may become unavailable if relations between countries deteriorate” are aspects of economic security that have been exposed by COVID-19.
Despite this sense of crisis, Iris Ohyama has significantly increased its mask production capacity at its domestic factories. Adding a new storage warehouse, they aim to build a supply network that can withstand emergencies.
Iris Ohyama Public Relations Department, Kyosuke Okamura: “By producing and selling domestically, we are returning to our roots and returning to domestic production. There is still a degree of dependence, or reliance, on China, but how we can respond in times like these is essential for a company.”
From the perspective of “economic security,” the government is promoting measures to encourage the strengthening of domestic production systems, which has become an urgent need, through subsidies. One of the businesses targeted, a sake brewery, said the following:
Yukiyo Nakamura, Manufacturing Department, Kiuchi Sake Brewery: “We make whiskey, but we bottle and sell it as disinfectant alcohol. I think many companies rely on overseas sources for their raw materials, so if we can produce even a little domestically, we can ensure a stable supply.”
“Economic security” is not limited to “supply chains.” For example, it includes the security of personal information, such as cyberattacks on the internet. The issue of LINE personal information being accessible in China exposed the risk of personal and corporate information being stolen overseas.
In addition, Japan faces numerous challenges, including the leakage of confidential information on cutting-edge technologies and the outflow of expert technicians. The creation of the new “Minister in charge of Economic Security” is also a sign of this sense of crisis.
Minister in charge of Economic Security, Kobayashi: “The era of separating security and economics is coming to an end. COVID-19 has exposed the vulnerabilities of supply chains. Competition between nations is becoming extremely fierce. There are increasing movements and opportunities to exert influence through economic means.”