Military, Economic, and Internet Defense: Counteracting External Threats to Japan

Since 2017, CPAC Japan has been an international stage for conservative leaders across the globe. Speakers have hailed from Mexico, the United States, and Hungary, among others. Topics addressed at these conferences have previously included national defense, respecting tradition and culture, economic stagnation, and external threats faced by Japan.  

Recently, some of the biggest external threats to Japan have come from China. With its threatening actions against Taiwan, capacity to gain massive amounts of personal data via the internet, and ability to “focus the Chinese people on a foreign enemy,” such as Japan, China’s behavior raises concerns for people across the world.  

Matt Whitaker, former Acting Attorney General of the United States, promotes the idea of peace through military and economic strength. In 2022, Japan had the “third largest economy in the world,” but has since fallen to number four, being overtaken by Germany just last year. Whitaker continues, “There is no more important friend and partner, not only in the Pacific, but worldwide, than Japan.” Representative Hitoshi Aoyagi urges the Japanese people that now is the time to “wake up” and “begin spending money on deterrence.” 

One of the protection and deterrence methods helpful to stopping China’s international personal data collection is the use of Blockchain. First made in Japan, Blockchain is a decentralized record of transactions linking together blocks of data in a chain that can’t be altered. It is encrypted end-to-end, helping prevent fraud and unauthorized activity.  

With its hard-to-hack nature, Blockchain “incentivizes proper action or behavior,” according to panelist Mr. Ueno. However, Blockchain could be a double-edged sword. Japanese politician Manabu Matsuda emphasizes the importance of being the first to create the platform since it “could be the ultimate weapon of China” if they figure out how to learn and use it.  

The preparation China is putting in for military buildup and preparation for war is “a total society effort,” says American lawyer, political analyst, and conservative author Gordon Chang. China’s readiness and ability to influence its people means “we are facing the prospect of war at any moment.”  

Hungarian political analyst and lawyer Miklós Szánthó reminds the Japanese people, “It is precisely at times like these that we must rediscover our patriotic love, draw strengths from our histories, articulate our national interest, and protect the future of our children.” It is imperative that Japan protects itself from military, economic, and unconventional Chinese threats to ensure the continuation of its society, traditions, and values.