dbsaiya comments

Corporations, like trump can say anything, but none of us are privy to the actual contract. Wait and see.

Money and time well spent, much better than JAXA and their failed moon missions.

What amazes me about the Philippines is the resilience of its people in the face of the many calamities that have struck the country

Haha! Mentioning Hegseth and cybersecurity in the same sentence is really pushing it...Mr. Signal chat man. Also, just take a look at recent history. Vietnam. The U.S. pulled out and the Vietnamese refugees who came to the U.S. faced discrimination and racism. Iraq. An illegal war based on the ever illusive WMD. The U.S. pulled out and Iraqi refugees fled to the U.S. and faced racism and anti-Muslim bans. Same with Afghanistan. Now it's China. If it gets hot and heavy against China, the U,S. will withdraw to their fallback position in Hawaii and Guam. Who will look out for the war refugees? Ukraine was supposed to be an ally but the WH gang tried to antagonize and humiliate their leader in front of the press. NATO and the EU, long considered allies to the U.S. in the post WW2 period are being looked at with skepticism ridicule. Unilateral tariffs with suspect formulas are being shoved into the faces of even the staunchest of trading partners and allies, Canada, Mexico, EU, UK and Japan. Time to think seriously about what a former Fox TV host and his boss has to say about Asian defense.

Trump twisting words to make it sound like he made all of this work. NS is going to buy USS not invest or make a deal with trump.

Haha! The appeals court just paused the ruling that blocked Trump's tariff. More disruption in the market and Ishiba and Akasawa are probably even more confused now. Don't give away the farm while we're not looking!

You have a 25 minute phone call through an interpreter and you feel that you have a deepened understanding of the trump mind? Even his own staff doesn't know what's going to be spewing out of his mouth in the next hour. The U.S. Court of International Trade recently ruled that trump's unilateral tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners illegal.  I think Ishiba and Akasawa got too far ahead of themselves by capitulating too early and played all their cards. Dumbo.

If I were NS, I would walk away now. Trump is trying to make this look like his prize trophy and plans to continue using it as such even in the future.

It's naive and ignorant for Japan to think that it holds a special place with the U.S. / trump. Publicly announce a decision to gradually and systematically reduce U.S. debt holdings, while freezing all future purchases. Diversify and shift some of the investments to RMB which could possibly lessen some of the political friction between China and Japan. If the trump wants to isolate the U.S. by bullying, then so be it. Go play by yourself.

I can't even stay at a cheap business hotel without luxury resort prices. Lots of business trips are spur of the moment so availability makes it even more of a challenge to secure lodging.

If a bully tries to take your lunch money and you give it to him, do you really think it's going to stop there?

That final line in this article....really? The U.S. is no longer a reliable partner in anything, didn't the first 100 days of Trump teach you anything?

Mr. Resolve this conflict in 24 hours just wants his name in the headlines again. He would serve no productive purpose in any meeting. ANY meeting.

You don't treat allies and business partners the way trump. is treating Japan. Ishiba had better learn not to put all his eggs in one basket and forget about the U.S. being an ally. Better meet with Xi and discuss how to counter MAGA.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

The LDP knew about this problem over 40 years ago, but were too busy lining their own pockets and just kept kicking this can down the road. Now it's in their face and they don't have a plan other than to throw money at it in hopes that people will procreate. They can't even protect the children who are alive now, especially those who are the most vulnerable, the abused, the runaways,...there's no safety net; a true waste of potential. They want to increase the defense budget and buy more war toyz but who's going to man these? JSDF recruitment quotas are short and with all the disasters, Japan will be facing a serious shortage of first responders not to mention hospital and nursing home staff. Good job LDP.

There should be another investigation on the police. This murder could have and should have been prevented.

"Japan will continue to ask for U.S. tariff measures to be reconsidered..." Doesn't sound very bold to me. How about demand to be abolished and start serious trade talks from a clean slate based on sound formulas that economists can agree upon instead of something pulled out of turmp's 6.

Don't count the U.S. as an ally anymore, and start making new alliances and economic partners. The Clown House is saying it out loud, USA first. Ishiba is foolish if he thinks that the U.S. is a reliable ally.

Where's the red clown cap and the knee pads for groveling? Prove me wrong, but I'm not holding my breath with the LDP.

Get rid of the consumption tax on food, water and medicine. Reduce the number of politicians in the Diet and reduce their pays and perks. Spread the pain...

Naive, ignorant and completely oblivious to what he did disqualifies Akazawa as a negotiator and Ishiba as a leader for supporting the act. The job was to negotiate down the ridiculous tariffs, not to pose with a cap that has been associated with white nationalists, insurrectionists and fascists.

Draw leaders from around the world except the U.S. Donald golfs on weekends.

Trump just found his way out of this self-inflicted pain that everyone is suffering because of this tariff policy. He's going to blame it on Powell now. I can already hear it, "I had a cure, but the lame FRB, and crooked Powell didn't listen to me, blah, blah, blah..."

Don't have to make eye contact if you just speak the truth. Japan is the largest owner of U.S. debt. Japan pays more in defense host nation support than any other foreign country, Japan's auto industry already employees thousands in the U.S., the formula used for calculating the tariffs is ridiculous and the list goes on and on. Put it out to the press, and put the ball in his court.

First of all, don't be in a rush to satisfy trump's timeline or you're already playing his game. Secondly, tell them to recalculate their tariff formula which is being ridiculed by economists all over the world. And lastly, remember that the bond market is what spooked trump, Japan is the largest foreign holder of U.S. debt, remind them since the U.S. is good at convenient amnesia.

Nothing will come of this round of talks. Ishiba will not commit until after the House of Councillors election in July. If he shows weakness, or capitulation, he'll get hit with the backlash that could impact the election. Best he can do now is to ask his majesty for an extension. And in the end, true to LDP form, after Japan votes LDP in the election, he'll kiss the ring. And we'll end up paying more for less to subsidize the big orange grift.

Hayashi said to "build a relationship of trust." That is a non-starter because he's a convicted felon, and a con that can't be trusted. Two things at stake for Japan. The obvious is the economics, and the other is coming out with their integrity and not showing any subservience. If they lose on these two, Trump will demand for more in the future, and Japan will further lose credibility on the world stage.

Golden Week and summer aren't ideal times to visit due to the crowds and heat. As we saw on opening day, the rainy season won't provide much shelter either, so there's only a narrow window with favorable weather for an enjoyable experience.

Remind them that trump flinched when he saw the bond market tanking and that Japan is the largest foreign holder of U.S. debt.