TOKYO: False claims that Japan’s new prime minister has created a ministry for “mass deportations” have been widely spread online, as immigration misinformation swirls after a “Japanese first” party did well in elections earlier this year.
The misleading statements circulating on X and Facebook — largely in English — say Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first woman premier who was sworn in this week, asked Kimi Onoda to lead the ministry.
Onoda was on Tuesday tapped for a number of roles, chiefly economic security minister and minister in charge of a “society of well-ordered and harmonious coexistence with foreign nationals.”
A department with the same name was created under Takaichi’s predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, although the appointment of a cabinet minister to supervise it is new.
At a press conference Wednesday, Onoda said that Japan “will strictly handle foreign nationals who do not follow the rules,” but there was no mention of mass deportations.
“The inappropriate use of various systems by some foreign residents, their crimes and misbehavior are causing anxiety and a sense of unfairness among Japanese people,” she said.
Immigration levels in Japan remain low compared to other rich economies, but with an aging population, one of the world’s lowest birth rates and worker shortages in many industries, the number of immigrants is increasing.
The rising numbers of foreigners, including tourists, was a major issue in the race for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership earlier this month, which Takaichi won before being elected prime minister.
Takaichi accused foreigners of kicking deer in her hometown Nara.
One of the widely circulated posts on X said that Takaichi was “sworn in and IMMEDIATELY created a ministry for mass deportations” received more than nine million views.
Another video spread on Facebook falsely claimed that Japan’s emperor had approved “the nationwide deportation plan.”
The false claims were also circulating in Thai, German and Spanish.
They come after a Japanese cultural and social exchange program with four African nations was canceled last month, after it triggered floods of emails and phone calls from people falsely believing that it was a new immigration policy.
Also last month Kitakyushu city was reportedly inundated with complaints after inaccurate claims that it planned Muslim-friendly school lunches.
In July, the anti-immigration Sanseito party did well in upper house elections, growing its seat tally to 15 from two. In the lower chamber it has three MPs.
Its agenda echoes other populist movements around the world, railing against “elitism” and “globalism,” and saying it will “bring power back to the people.”
False claim spreads of Japan ‘mass deportations’ ministry
https://arab.news/yrr9h
False claim spreads of Japan ‘mass deportations’ ministry
- One of the widely circulated posts on X said that Takaichi was “sworn in and IMMEDIATELY created a ministry for mass deportations” received more than nine million views
- Another video spread on Facebook falsely claimed that Japan’s emperor had approved “the nationwide deportation plan”
Ukraine’s Zelensky meets Pope Leo, prepares revised plan on Russia war
- UKrainian leader said that Washington’s 28-point plan had been reduced to 20 points after US-Ukraine talks at the weekend
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Pope Leo XIV in Italy on Tuesday as he prepared to send the United States revised proposals to end Russia’s invasion.
Zelensky on Monday held talks with European leaders in London and Brussels as US President Donald Trump keeps up pressure on Kyiv for a settlement.
Trump has accused Zelensky of not even reading his administration’s initial proposals, which were judged by Ukraine’s allies to be overly favorable to Russia.
Zelensky said that Washington’s 28-point plan had been reduced to 20 points after US-Ukraine talks at the weekend.
Ukrainian and European officials “are going to work on these 20 points,” Zelensky told an online press conference on Monday.
“We do not like everything that our partners came back with. Although this issue is not so much with the Americans as with the Russians.
“But we will definitely work on it, and as I said, tomorrow evening (Tuesday) we will do everything to send our view on this to the US.”
Washington’s plan involved Ukraine surrendering land that Russia has not captured in return for security promises that fall short of Kyiv’s aspirations to join NATO.
Zelensky pointed to the land issue and international security guarantees as two of the main sticking points.
“Do we envision ceding territories? We have no legal right to do so, under Ukrainian law, our constitution and international law. And we don’t have any moral right either,” Zelensky said.
“The key is to know what our partners will be ready to do in the event of new aggression by Russia. At the moment, we have not received any answer to this question,” Zelensky said.
‘Robust security guarantees’
Zelensky met with Pope Leo at his country residence in Castel Gandolfo near Rome, and is to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni later Tuesday.
Meloni has been a staunch supporter of Kyiv since Russia’s February 2022 invasion, although one of her coalition allies, Matteo Salvini’s League party, is more skeptical.
Rome has sent weapons to Ukraine but only for use inside the country. Meloni has also ruled out sending troops in a possible monitoring force proposed by Britain and France.
The Italian government last week postponed a decision on renewing military aid to Ukraine, with the current authorization due to end on December 31. Salvini has reportedly questioned if it was necessary given the new talks.
However, Meloni at the time insisted that “as long as there’s a war, we’ll do what we can, as we’ve always done to help Ukraine defend itself.”
On Monday, Zelensky met in London with the leaders of Britain, France and Germany before heading to Brussels for talks with the heads of the EU and of NATO.
“Ukraine’s sovereignty must be respected. Ukraine’s security must be guaranteed, in the long term, as a first line of defense for our Union,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after Monday’s meeting.
French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X after the London meeting that “we are preparing robust security guarantees and measures for Ukraine’s reconstruction.”
Macron said the “main issue” was finding “convergence” between the European-Ukrainian position and that of the United States.
Trump has blown hot and cold on Ukraine since returning to office in January, initially chastising Zelensky for not being grateful for US support.
But he was also frustrated that efforts to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war had failed to produce results and he recently slapped sanctions on Russian oil firms.
