[Summary] The US Department of Justice has indicted the CEO of a Chinese online gambling company on charges including violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly bribing Japanese lawmakers in connection with Japan’s investor relations business. Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki said, “We need to investigate what purpose the money was given for and to whom it was given.” “We need to thoroughly investigate from a security perspective whether foreign forces have influenced our country’s decision-making,” he said, hinting at the possibility of asking the question during a debate between party leaders in the extraordinary Diet session. A recent case in our memory is the arrest of the Deputy Minister of the Cabinet Office in charge of integrated resorts (IRs), including casinos, on suspicion of bribery. Specifically, House of Representatives member Tsukasa Akimoto was arrested by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors’ Office Special Investigation Division in December 2019 for receiving cash from a Chinese company. And now, news from the United States is sending shock waves through the political world. The US Department of Justice has indicted the former CEO of a Chinese online gambling company on charges of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other offenses for allegedly bribing Japanese members of parliament in connection with an investor relations business in Japan. The defendant indicted was Pan Zhengming, the CEO of 500.com (now BitMining) based in Shenzhen, China. Pan has testified that he provided $1.9 million (approximately 290 million yen) to Japanese politicians through consultants between 2017 and 2019. The five politicians reportedly include Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, a close aide to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Iwaya’s name also surfaced in 2020. At the time, Iwaya said, “I have never received cash from Chinese companies. “I swear to the gods that I have no involvement in any wrongdoing,” he said, completely denying having received any cash from the Chinese company. In January 2020, then-Secretary-General Ishiba Shigeru told reporters in his hometown of Tottori, “The trial should not be the only forum for explaining things to the public, so we must make clear what needs to be made clear through Diet deliberations.” In response to the renewed suspicions, Tamaki said it is necessary to investigate “for what purpose the documents were passed on, and to whom they were passed on.” He added, “I think we should thoroughly check from a national security perspective whether foreign forces influenced our country’s decision-making, so I would like to consider asking such questions if necessary,” suggesting the possibility of questioning Prime Minister Ishiba about this matter during the party leader debate in the extraordinary Diet session that begins on the 28th. Below is a question and answer session with Representative Tamaki: Abe: We are soliciting ideas for the content of the party leader debate, but there is one issue that has not been covered extensively by the media. The US Department of Justice has reportedly indicted Chinese online gambling operators. The contractor testified that he had given money to members of the Japanese Diet. I think we need to find out what actually happened in this regard, so are you planning to ask questions about this issue (in the party leader debate)? Tamaki: We are currently doing something called broad listening, where when our party asks questions on behalf of the party, we don’t just ask questions from within our party or local assembly members, but we also ask questions broadly from everyone, and we always try to ask questions that are directly connected to public opinion or to help develop policies, so I would like to continue doing this in the future. We have received a variety of opinions, but as Mr. Abe just said, it appears that money was given to five people, so I think it is necessary to conduct a thorough investigation into the purpose for which the money was given and to whom it was given. In addition, current Cabinet members are included, so in that sense, I believe we need to thoroughly check from a security perspective whether or not foreign forces have influenced our country’s decision-making, and I would like to consider asking such questions if necessary. (Sources below:
Abe Hiroyuki (Editor-in-Chief of Japan In-Depth and Journalist) Japan In-Depth Editorial Department (Kajitani Yuka.
>>32 I mean, this is basically Ishiba’s lame duck. It’s rare to see a prime minister who is so criticized based on his personal qualities alone, without any propaganda.
I wonder what Ishiba is thinking when he says things like this himself and calls Iwaya foreign minister. Is he trying to protect Iwaya? To be honest, I think Ishiba is exposing the dirtiest side of the LDP. He seems intent on crushing factions and political opponents, and the fact that he’s calling himself a disciple of Tanaka Kakuei, the man of money-driven politics, shows that there’s really nothing that can be done. I don’t think he can bring about political reform. He should resign quickly before the LDP gets even more corrupt.
The United States does not have the power to decide Japan’s prime minister, but it does have the power to force him to resign, so perhaps that’s why they don’t like the Ishiba Cabinet.
>>38 Well, the next prime minister will be Republican Trump. He had a very good relationship with Shinzo Abe, so his political rival Ishiba, who is incompetent and has ties to China, would be unpleasant. Trump is currently prohibited from doing anything political, but it’s probably okay for the CIA to act on his own accord.
The Democratic Party is refusing diplomacy with Ishiba, saying it’s not worth talking to. The Republican Party is also gently refusing contact with Ishiba. If we don’t get a new prime minister soon, Japan’s national security will be in danger.
>>42 The disapproval rating for the Ishiba Cabinet is now over 50% Just two months after it was formed What do you mean, “it will continue like this in the future” No matter how you look at it, this is the decline of the LDP
>>48 I wonder if she’ll cry. I had the impression that Iwaya was someone who was criticized as being like a dog of China and Korea since the time of Prime Minister Abe.
No no, the old media doesn’t report because they are being bribed. The old media reports on baseball, Korea, the Korean Wave, kpop, Korean culture, Korean food, Korean fashion, Korean makeup, Korean drinks, Korean mobile phones, Korean cars, the origins of the Korean Wave, and Johnny’s.
>>65 Also, the biased reporting of Mr. Saito and President-elect Trump. When Mr. Saito’s lawyer was accidentally put on TV, the host was embarrassed by being scolded by the lawyer. I don’t think they’ll let that lawyer on TV anymore.
Iwaya: “I have never received cash from a Chinese company. “ Oh, so they received it from a company that wasn’t Chinese. So it was an indirect donation?
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