Mount Fuji: Iconic view to be blocked in bid to deter tourists

An image showing a photo being taken of a person standing in front of a Lawson shop, with Mount Fuji in the backgroundGetty Images

One of Japan’s most famous photo locations is being blocked by the government outraged by tourists who do n’t show proper manner.

To obstruct Mount Fuji’s view, a large, black challenge will be constructed.

People of Fujikawaguchiko accuse primarily foreign tourists of driving and dropping trash illegally while searching for the best picture.

A comfort store is in the middle of the photo, and Japan’s most well-known monument is visible behind it.

Fujikawaguchiko is now a popular spot for photos thanks to the contrast of the soaring mountain and the mundane view of one of Japan’s most well-known stores, according to a local official who told AFP that the location has gained a “reputation that this spot is really Chinese.”

They continued, noting that the Yamanashi region’s population was at its wits ‘ end due to the behavior, with some visitors even climbing onto roofs to capture the perfect picture.

Construction of the mesh net which will be 2.5m ( 8ft ) and 20m ( 65.6ft )- or the same length as a cricket pitch- will begin as early as next week, the official told AFP.

” It’s regrettable we have to do this, because of some tourists who ca n’t respect rules”, they said.

Prior to installing the more extreme estimate of the monitor, officials had put up street signs and claimed that repeated warnings from security guards were ignored.

The official claimed that the internet was also being put up to protect a nearby medical office, which was having trouble driving in its places without consent and climbing on the building’s roof to get the best picture.

Following the raising of post-pandemic travel limitations and a government policy to draw in more unusual customers, Japan is currently experiencing a tourism boom. The island nation’s customer population reached three million for the first time in March.

But, soaring numbers of visitors have caused some problems.

As authorities try to limit the number of people scaling to the summit, climbers will be required to pay a$ 13 ( £10 ) charge from this summer due to Mount Fuji congestion.

According to officials, the congestion on the way up Japan’s highest rock was causing more injuries and littering the route, as well as hikers who were not appropriately dressed.

The Yoshida Trail’s hike rate may be set at 4, 000 persons per day. They will also not be allowed to set off between 16: 00 and 02: 00- portion of a bet to prevent consequently- called “bullet climbs”, when people try to level the 3, 776- metre ( 12, 388- foot ) summit without breaks.

In an effort to educate visitors on how to act in Kyoto’s traditional Gion quarter, officials started handing out flyers and paper lamps in 2019.

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Monks nabbed for poaching released on bond

Authorities detaching top abbots who are suspected of engaging in illegal hunting

Monks nabbed for poaching released on bond
Leaders come across a group of thieves, including two priests, as they look for areas in Phu Khiao Wildlife Sanctuary, Chaiyaphum, on Thursday. ( Photo supplied )

As regulators continue their research for the municipal assistant priest suspected of participating in illegal hunting, two Buddhist monks who were detained for hunting in the Phu Khiao Wildlife Sanctuary have been released on bail.

On Thursday, beginner hunters Atikhun Maneewong and Phra Maha Montri were apprehended for killing wild animals in the sanctuary in northeast Thailand. On connection provided by their friends, they were released on Saturday.

Authorities found weapon and six sheep parts, including rooster antlers, in their hands. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation has charged them with hunting in a secured area and keeping improper dog remains.

After being spotted at a hunting station by forest officers and men who were monitoring fire spots in the jungle area on Thursday, authorities are now looking into the case of another seven suspects who managed to evade record.

Kritapas Chaiyapana, representing the National Office of Buddhism in Chaiyaphum, discussed the issue with the country’s acting priest on Saturday, given the noted engagement of Phra Sri Sajayanmuni, the provincial assistant priest and mind of Wat Huay Hin Fon, a famous temple.

The acting abbot said that a memo had been issued earlier to warn against poaching in the sanctuary, which covers 1, 560 square kilometres.

The hunters being pursued are suspected to be members of the same group that were repeatedly caught in Nong Bua Daeng district, according to Wichanon Sanpala, the wildlife sanctuary’s director.

He claimed that the majority of these thieves are Phra Sri Sajayanmuni’s relatives or followers.

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Taiwan reports Chinese military activity after Blinken leaves Beijing

Taiwan’s defence ministry said the plane were involved in” combined combat readiness inspections” with Chinese ships, adding that Chinese aircraft and boats responded “appropriately”. It did not give specifics. On Saturday, the Chinese defense department did not respond to requests for comment outside of business days. Taiwan’s military forces areContinue Reading

‘Rat catcher’ was a drug dealer, say police

After being caught with speed medications in Khon Kaen, think offered B500, 000 reward to authorities.

‘Rat catcher’ was a drug dealer, say police
340, 000 rate tablets were seized from a fictitious mouse catcher and his wife during a presentation in Khon Kaen on Saturday. ( Photo: Chakrapan Natanri )

KHON KAEN: A drug trader posing as a land mouse catcher has been arrested along with his family with more than 300, 000 rate pills, according to police, who say they were offered a 500, 000- baht bribe to relieve the pair.

Jinda Thaochalee, 41, and his family Rungthip Sakunphon, 36, were apprehended in Ban Fang area of the northern county and 340, 000 rate pills seized, Pol Col Thanomsit Wongwijarn, the lieutenant municipal police captain, said on Saturday.

Local police in tambon Nong Bua pulled Mr. Jinda over after they discovered a man acting suspiciously inside a black pickup truck with Kalasin license plates behind the Wiwektham forest temple.

The man claimed he was going to catch farm rats, and he had found hunting gear in his car. However, the police officers noticed that he appeared terrified when he saw them.

When they asked to search the vehicle, they found 20, 000 speed pills hidden inside. The drugs were being delivered to another dealer, they said. The suspect was transported to the police station in Ban Fang.

Mr. Jinda acknowledged during questioning that his wife and he had more speed pills at the home he shared with them.

A police officer shows rat-catching tools taken from a suspect’s pickup truck in Khon Kaen after being caught with speed pills. ( Photo: Chakrapan Natanri )

The suspect was then taken to a house and found another 320, 000 pills there. Mr. Jinda attempted to bribe the arresting team, but they fabricated his offer. When he brought out 500, 000 baht in cash and gave it to the police, they immediately detained him and his wife, along with the pills, the bribe money and the pickup, said Pol Col Thanomsit.

According to investigators, Mr. Jinda purchased drugs from a trafficker in Laos in quantities of 400, 000 at once. He distributed the drugs by marking specific locations with rat-catching tools so that dealers would be able to pick them up.

He told police he had been hired for 200, 000 baht for each delivery and had made three deliveries.

The couple were taken into custody by the police for additional legal proceedings. Police are extending the investigation to find those responsible.

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Philippines denies deal with China over disputed South China Sea shoal

A Chinese claim that the two countries had reached an agreement over an escalating maritime dispute in the South China Sea was denied by the Philippines on Saturday ( April 27 ), calling the claim propaganda.

A representative from China’s embassy in Manila reported on April 18 that the two had come to terms with a “new type” for managing tensions at the Second Thomas Shoal, without going into further detail.

Since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in 2022, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro stated on Saturday that his country was” hardly aware of, nor is it a party to, any domestic agreement with China.”

Teodoro said in a statement that the Defense Department has not spoken to any Chinese leaders since last year.

Teodoro’s comments were made during business hours, and China’s embassy in Manila did not respond to a request for comment right away.

In recent months, Beijing and Manila have consistently fought over the buried reef, which Beijing claims is located only in its “exclusive economic zone” but which China even asserts.

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Cadmium waste removal plan given go-ahead

Harmful material to be returned to Pun for proper disposal under strict supervision

Cadmium waste removal plan given go-ahead
At a J&amp, B Metal factory in Samut Sakhon state early this month, authorities inspect carriers containing copper waste. ( Photo: Royal Thai Police )

The Ministry of Industry has granted permission for the company that handled copper waste to shift the dangerous materials and effectively deal of it.

Industry Minister Pimphattra Wichaikul announced on Saturday that a committee tasked with overseeing the operation has approved SET-listed Bound and Beyond Plc, which was at fault for improperly disposing of dangerous waste. The procedure is scheduled to start on Monday night.

Four wheeled trucks will be used to move 120 kilograms of the spare, packed into 80 carriers, from J&amp, B Metal Co Ltd in Samut Sakhon state.

In contrast, six 10- vehicle cars may carry 100 carriers, totalling 150 tonnes, from LLT Metal Co Ltd in Bangkok.

Safety checks will be conducted on all automobiles throughout the activity, said the chancellor.

The transfer of another 12,800 tons of Samut Sakhon and Chon Buri misuse is anticipated to become complete by June 17th.

Bound and Beyond had agreed to let J&amp B Metal rid of the effluent under a deal that required the latter to do so. Although the owner acknowledged he intended to buy the waste, the terms forbid the company from doing so in order to protect the company’s finances.

The toxic waste will be taken to a Bound and Beyond storage facility in Tak state, where it will be adequately landfilled by September 30. The organization was previously known as Padaeng Industry Plc, which ran a zinc-mining firm in Tak up until 2016. It has since switched to the lodge company.

To avoid soil contamination, the oversight committee has begun making plans, including installing a geosynthetic clay liner in the stock area.

Before the procedure begins, manifests outlining the methods and pathways for each carrying vehicle are required.

Sunday is the day of a practice being held under the supervision of the permanent secretary for business.

The economy minister said she intends to see the beginning of the transportation in Bangkok, with information from bridge police accompanying each caravan.

Cadmium has numerous uses, somewhat in the production of rechargeable batteries, colours, metal surfaces and plastics. When admium and its constituents enter the food chain, they can cause harm to human tissues and organs because they are extremely dangerous. Because of this threat, its removal is tightly regulated.

Pimphattra Wichaikul, the minister of industry, says she intends to physically witness the start of the dangerous cadmium waste transportation process. ( Photo: Ministry of Industry )

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Website promoting Senate candidate registration goes dark

The Election Commission advises people against accessing a possible improper website operated by Progressive Movement.

Website promoting Senate candidate registration goes dark
The site www.theelectioncom is claimed to be. senate67.com may violate laws intended to prevent “manipulation” of the Senate vote. ( File photo )

The Election Commission (EC ) has temporarily shut down a website created by the Progressive Movement to encourage people to run in the Senate election.

The polling organization previously warned aspiring individuals against registering with a potentially unlawful website and said it was looking into alleged attempts to manipulate the vote of new lawmakers.

On Friday evening, a observe was posted on website. senate67.com saying that “due to vague requirements of the EC”, it is partially inaccessible.

The EC stated in a speech that it may be unlawful to encourage the formation of teams for the Senate election. Thus, an investigation into alleged breaches has been launched, it said.

The polling place even warned potential prospects against sharing personal information and discussing their political views on websites, including social media sites.

The Progressive Movement president, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, is accused of trying to rig the new system to choose 200 lawmakers to remove the junta-appointed ones whose terms will disappear on May 10. The EC declaration follows these claims.

Mr Thanathorn, past president of the now- former Future Forward Party, has been urging his followers to be Senate election prospects. Then, he says, those close to the current government did end up winning the most chairs, and democracy would suffer.

He has stated that he wants to see 100, 000 people apply for seats in the fresh Upper House for a price of 2,500 baht each.

Lawmakers from 20 specialist organizations are expected to be chosen for election. Just candidates who register as individuals may cast ballots in the Senate election.

Mr. Thanathorn claimed that he intended to create website. senate67.com to be used to channel with another potential candidates ahead of the vote.

As of 3pm on Wednesday, 1, 278 persons had registered, he said.

Surveys investigators are gathering information about the site, according to the EC assertion, and legal action may be brought if they determine that the action is in contravention of the election law.

The EC is presently looking into a petition to dissolve the Move Forward Party, the party that will succeed Future Forward. The organization has been accused of attempting to subvert the constitutional monarchy by calling for modifications to the Lese-majeste law known as Section 112 of the Criminal Code.

The fresh Senate will have 200 people and not be formally elected by the electorate, as per the 2017 contract created by the prior military government.

The applicants will cast ballots among themselves over a number of rounds to determine 10 senators for each of the 20 groups that are available, with a list of five candidates for each group’s reserve.

May 13 is when the applicant application process will start. June 9 and June 16 and June 26 will be the districts, municipal, and national elections, and the benefits will be made public on July 2.

The Senate election will likely have about 100 000 votes cast, according to estimates.

A see posted on website. senate67.com says that “due to vague rules of the EC”, it is partially inaccessible.

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North Korea accuses US of politicising human rights issues

SEOUL: &nbsp, North Korea accused the United States on Saturday ( Apr 27 ) of politicising human rights in the East Asian country, denouncing what it called political provocation and conspiracy. A foreign government spokesman, cited by state media Efforts as saying that Pyongyang will create harsh and crucial decisionsContinue Reading

What to do about weed?

What to do about weed?
Anutin: Trapped off- protect

The legalisation of cannabis was just back in the limelight, threatening to examine the alliance government’s unity.

What Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said to the French media just left many people wondering how long the state may last despite his conviction that unification is still firmly in place and that a government change had “never crossed his mind.”

Mr Srettha gave an appointment to France 24, a European condition- owned media outlet, in which he disclosed the government’s plan to grip in the use of cannabis, which was decriminalised in 2022. According to reports, he reportedly argued that the social benefits of legalizing cannabis outweigh the monetary benefits of making it available for both medical use and research purposes.

Minister Dr. Cholnan Srikaew, who claimed that the cannabis legalization matter was too far along, shocked the Public Health Ministry when he said his appointment had surprised the Public Health Ministry.

Dr. Cholnan remarked that while the buck stops with the top, re-listing cannabis as a narcotic must be carefully considered. Since the government’s pledges to legislature were one of the ones that it was required to follow, he added, Mr. Srettha’s private opinion was solely that of the proposed recriminalization.

As of now, only products containing over 0.2 % THC]tetrahydrocannabinol — cannabis ‘ main psychoactive agent ] by weight will be considered illegal.

While Pheu Thai was the main opposition group during the past Prayut Chan-o-cha administration, it fought fervently to have marijuana removed from the drug list.

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board initiated the decriminalization of marijuana, and the Bhumjaithai Party, a partnership companion with which the Prayut state oversaw the Public Health Ministry, followed.

Anutin Charnvirakul, the president of Bhumjaithai, fought ferociously to get the plan into effect. Bhumjaithai, the second-largest group in the Prayut management, used unheard of negotiation energy to put into practice the unheard-of cannabis coverage for medical and research purposes.

Much to the pleasure of patients who require cannabis-based medications to supplement their treatment protocols, the group created a rules to exclusively permit the use of cannabis for research and medical development.

However, a complete legislation that would otherwise govern cannabis use was lacking. The Justice Ministry claims that cannabis has been extensively used for pleasure purposes and is readily available online, which encourages people under the age of 18 to test or experiment with different narcotic substances.

The cannabis power bill is currently being developed and is awaiting legislation. Since the bill is pending consideration in parliament, its passage is a tied-over commitment from the previous government.

Despite criticism from Pheu Thai, which argued that cannabis should be reinstated on the narcotics list because the controls and regulations proposed under the costs are very weak, Bhumjaithai had highlighted the cannabis decriminalization policy as its election battle system.

Some political observers were anticipating a gap between Pheu Thai and the pro-conservative functions, the largest of which is Bhumjaithai, when they decided to form a government after last year’s election.

But, concessions on cannabis were used as a precursor to the formation of the government, and Pheu Thai, the bloc’s head, was criticized for backtracking in order to maintain coalition unity.

Shortly after the authorities took the oath of office, the cannabis issue vanished, but it recently surfaced as rumors about a cabinet reshuffle started to spread.

Yet rumor claimed that Pheu Thai was considering incorporating the Democrat Party into the alliance. The Democrats ‘ participation, according to the rumor spinsters, would make the government line-up also” cumbersome” unless one of the present coalition parties was eliminated.

The most recent cannabis rumors stemmed from Mr. Srettha’s France 24 meeting, which may have caught the Bhumjaithai Party off watch.

Mr. Anutin quickly reminded the top that Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai had now put their differences at bay regarding the hemp problem. He claimed that the prime minister had already declared to parliament that cannabis use would be permitted for clinical and research purposes in a policy speech shortly after taking office.

” There’s an apparent level of quality that”, he told reporters.

A plan speech to congress is essentially a pledge made unwaveringly to the people, he said, warning that returning to the drug trade would be a complex issue.

However, Mr. Anutin declined to respond to reporters ‘ inquiries about whether Pheu Thai should return the favor because Bhumjaithai has consistently backed Pheu Thai’s premier digital wallet flyer program.

” I follow where the head of the government leads”, he said.

Do they intend to stay or leave?

With Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang hanging over his mind, there is rife rumors about how Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin did reshuffle his case.

Studies say that Mr Srettha, who continuously serves as the finance minister, may give up that role and letting his assistant, Pichai Chunhavajira, take over.

Sutin: Issues over coming

The top, however, is said to be setting his sights on a fresh double function involving him becoming defence secretary. In the change scheduled to take place as early as next month, it is widely anticipated that Mr. Sutin may be removed from the case.

The former Pheu Thai Party voter’s transition into the Srettha case has been a series of turns and turns. His position in the Pheu Thai-led state was anything but sure from the beginning.

Rumors surfaced prior to his appointment as defense secretary. He was tipped for a variety of supervisory positions, including those in education, culture, learning, and defense.

His nomination as defence secretary did not suppress the feeling of uncertainty about his position in the government because he had no prior experience with the defense or security matters. Some experts were quick to say that Mr. Sutin’s government may be in a short time.

It comes as no surprise to discover Mr. Sutin’s brand among those who are facing the knife as cabinet reshuffle discussions are gaining steam.

But Thanaporn Sriyakul, chairman of the Political and Public Policy Analysis Institute, takes the guesswork about Mr Sutin’s tragedy with a grain of salt. Although a cupboard change can be expected, Mr Sutin will never face the trim, according to the intellectual.

Pheu Thai supporters in the Northeast are only among those who believe that Mr. Sutin can win the party’s only general election defeat to its arch-rival Move Forward Party ( MPF).

Given that Mr. Sutin has remained a member of the ruling party for so long, it is not sensible to harm the group’s help center. He has not lost an election, established his credibility as the government’s chief opposition whip, and brought himself and his own integrity to the responsibilities of defense minister.

Additionally, Mr. Thanaporn said that the rumor about Cholnan Srikaew being removed from the case is unsupported. The original Pheu Thai president is the best option for the ruling party to maintain the confidence of its followers in the North, where the MFP won in many constituencies in the 2023 elections.

According to speculation, Mr. Sutin and Dr. Cholnan will be appointed to manage the ruling party’s political affairs and strategies.

There is no justification for extinguishing them from the blog. Additionally, I’ve heard from a trustworthy source that the rumor has upset the Pheu Thai head and the perfect secretary. A true leader will not remove them from the line-up, according to the researcher.

He allegedly made reference to paroled past top Thaksin Shinawatra, who has long been viewed as the de facto leader of Pheu Thai, which is now led by his youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Social observers have different ideas about who will be shown the doorway, but it is undisputed that Thaksin may have the final say in the case shake-up.

According to the researcher, Mr. Srettha does not necessarily need to hold the position of defense secretary to oversee foreign policy and national protection. As primary minister, he has the authority to oversee these procedures without the need to take on additional responsibilities or tasks.

There is also no basis for Mr. Thanaporn’s claim that Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin may be given the public health investment because Mr. Somsak is known to have no interest in the position.

Mr Somsak, public health secretary in the previous government, is believed to be eyeing the Interior Ministry, but is also apparently willing to settle for the Agriculture Ministry.

Anutin Charnvirakul, the leader of Bhumjaithai and agriculture minister Thamanat Prompow, Palang Pracharath’s secretary-general, does not step down or change their positions.

Furthermore, Mr Somsak seems glad with his present job after the cabinet gave the nod to the” 100- billion- baht cattle” work to help eradicate poverty among Thai farmers, according to Mr Thanaporn.

The scheme, to be piloted among 500, 000 households in target areas nationwide, will extend a loan of 50, 000 baht to each household to buy two cows to raise on their land.

Mr. Somsak was quoted as saying that he would quit politics if the project turned out to be a flop.

Not to mention that Mr. Somsak is in charge of the Office of National Water Resources, which receives a lot of funding annually. He wants nothing more,” Mr Thanaporn said.

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Biden places politics over strategy in US Steel sale - Asia Times

Barack Obama made a decision eight years ago that has hampered US reputation and control in the Indo-Pacific to this day.

Obama sided with strategic concerns by weighing political calculations when he considered and ultimately rejected the Trans-Pacific Partnership ( TPP, now known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP ) ratification.

Joe Biden is acting in the same way as he weighs the order of US Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel.

Basically concerned about national security, while in fact&nbsp, weighing the impact on political support&nbsp, in battleground state in an election time, Biden has announced his opposition to the price.

It’s a short-sighted choice that threatens long-term US national interests, insults a vital ally, undermines international monetary policy, and allows protectionism from trading partners.

Nippon Steel announced last December that it would buy US Steel, an iconic organization that was struggling to survive, for US$ 14.9 billion.

Nippon Steel promised to keep the business name and its headquarters in Pittsburgh, pledged&nbsp, and that there would be no work breaks and that it would help the company “grow in the United States,” in response to criticism from workers who feared cuts and economic patriots who were opposed to any sales of US businesses.

The Committee for Foreign Investment in the United States ( CFIUS) would review the deal first, but the US did not specify how that review should conclude. Some believed that the CFIUS critique would help pass the offer without pricking the Biden administration.

Biden then appeared to criticize the order, saying that it was “vital” that the business should be in British hands. Donald Trump, who will experience Biden in the November national vote, has been more harsh, calling the price” a hideous point” that he would stop “instantaneously”.

Kritikers have come out in recent days claiming that Nippon Steel’s operations in China threaten its control and pose a “material national security risk.”

” We cannot allow one of the largest American steelmakers to be gobbled up by a foreign entity with ties to the Chinese Communist Party and its military- industrial apparatus” ,Senator JD Vance, Republican of Ohio, &nbsp, told&nbsp, the&nbsp, Financial Times.

Nippon Steel refutes the accusations, claiming that it only has activities that and that no one has access to data about operations outside of China.

Refusal of the deal – also equivocation – is a mistake. Nippon Steel’s buy may lead to US Steel’s development and let its continued operation. It may increase US Steel’s competitiveness, giving the company a more lasting foundation.

Allowing the agreement to proceed would demonstrate that the US is truly committed to monetary co-operation with important allies and partners and the inclusion of their markets in ways that benefit everyone. It would help participation, promoting efficiency and development.

It would serve as an example for other nations as they work to strike a balance between promoting foreign investment and protecting private industries from predation. It would demonstrate that the US is certainly a liar, clinging to international markets without offering the same benefits to its rivals.

This is especially critical for Japan, which has been restructuring its foreign and security policy view to&nbsp, fit more closely&nbsp, with that of the US and be the United States ‘ “global mate”. Chinese companies have made billions of dollars in the US in recent years, and they and their governments are working closely with them to integrate cutting-edge technologies that are essential to management in the twenty-first century.

These demonstrations and signals are becoming increasingly important for US authority and credibility in the Indo-Pacific.

Since 2016, when Obama flinched and let elections bypass proper problems, choices in Washington have contributed to an picture of&nbsp, unreliability&nbsp, among local financial partners.

Withholding the purchase of Nippon Steel, one can confirm that the TPP was not an anomaly, that neither Democrats nor Republicans can be trusted to give the US leadership in economic and, consequently, strategic matters, and that China is willing to cede this important ground.

Washington must address the needs of regional nations as they see them if the US wants to compete with China. Economic opportunities are foremost on their list and they have &nbsp, judged&nbsp, the US to be failing on this vital metric. China is bridging that void.

Of course, no US president can ignore domestic political considerations. Biden does n’t have to. For both political and strategic reasons, he can back the agreement. The parlous state of US Steel is the second most important reason to support the deal, after the strategic justification.

The business has been losing money for years. Not only has it failed to innovate but, &nbsp, explained&nbsp, one industry analyst, US Steel “peaked out in 1916” and “it’s been downhill ever since”, driven by a corporate culture that’s content to be&nbsp, a follower&nbsp, rather than an industry leader. That’s why shareholders&nbsp, voted&nbsp, to approve the deal earlier this month, they know that it’s the best way to revitalize this humbled icon.

Biden should make the case that US Steel will survive if it is sold to Nippon Steel. New management can encourage the company’s modernization and the development of a new mindset in executive offices and workplaces. Japan companies are more receptive to stakeholder interests, rather than just those of shareholders.

They are eager to demonstrate their reliability as partners, and it is in their own ( and the country’s ) best to encourage greater integration between the two economies. That should aid in protecting jobs that unions and politicians who serve them.

Biden should n’t pander to blue- collar voters, peddling untruths about jobs or equivocating until after the election. Both would disprove the notion that US politicians are cynical and untrustworthy, and that lies, errors, or half-truths can be expected from them.

Biden should instead make a direct argument to US voters and US partners that he is aware of the national interest and that this sale offers the best chance to preserve steel jobs. It would n’t correct the error of 2016, but it would prevent making a new mistake among those failures.

Brad Glosserman ( brad@pacforum .org ) is deputy director of and visiting professor at the Center for Rule- Making Strategies at Tama University as well as senior adviser ( nonresident ) at Pacific Forum. He is the author of <a href="https://press.georgetown.edu/Book/Peak-Japan”>Peak Japan: The End of Great Ambitions.

This article was first published by Pacific Forum. It is republished with permission.

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