Trump announces a big news
While the Chinese are still celebrating the New Year, Trump announces a big news: Japan is about to be the scapegoat. This is really not an exaggeration. Trump's bamboo pole is truly striking hard. But Trump is very happy. On the afternoon of February 17, he announced to the world on his social media: The huge trade agreement we reached with Japan has officially started! Below is a long passage, mixed with capitalized English and Trump's emotional exclamations. After a glance, the general meaning of Trump's tweet is as follows.
1. Japan's promised $550 billion investment in the U.S. has officially started, with Japan providing the first batch of funds. Well, any seemingly voluntary payment has an invisible hand adjusting the balance behind it.
2. Trump has designated three projects: a liquefied natural gas receiving station in Texas, a gas power plant in Ohio, and a critical mineral facility in Georgia. Why these three? I will explain below.
3. The Ohio project, Trump claims, is "the largest factory in history." Why Ohio? Because Trump has won elections here three times. In the game of power, the checks from allies are always cashed first, even if that money does not come from their own pockets.
4. The Texas liquefied natural gas project will help the U.S. export. In Trump's words, it will "further consolidate our energy dominance." Trump has a special preference for traditional energy.
5. The Georgia project is related to rare earths. I saw some analysis stating that "this factory will directly challenge China's 90% monopoly in rare earth processing," while Trump claims it will "end our foolish dependence on foreign resources." Ironically, the way to end one dependency often comes at the cost of another deeper entanglement.
6. These projects are all personally selected by Trump, with Japan providing the funding. If Japan does not provide the funds within 45 days, Japanese tariffs will quickly revert from 15% to 25%. The choice of the strong is called strategy; the choice of the weak is often just called acceptance.
7. $550 billion, about 12% of Japan's GDP, must be in place before January 2029. How about that? Trump's bamboo pole is quite ruthless! Using Japan's money to win over his voters; using Japan's money to strengthen American industry; using Japan's money to break China's rare earth advantage. In Trump's world, the rules seem very simple: whoever has the hardest fist gets to strike the loudest.
In fact, Trump once said that he can freely use this $550 billion for various investments. After all, if the investment loses money, it is all Japan's; if the investment makes money, Japan shouldn't think they can take it away. I saw that after Trump announced the big news, his supporters were jubilant. After all, this large sum of money means jobs, means business, means real cash that can be put in their own pockets. You should know that this is the first real investment that will land in the U.S. after Trump's bamboo pole was struck.
The first one to come and give money is still Japan! But is Japan truly willing? Anyway, Trump self-indulgently announced major progress, while his frequent interaction partner, Sato Sakurai, remained silent. Some things can only be kept private. Japan has actually already given in, but Trump, by making it known to the whole world, puts Japan in a position where they can't respond either way; where do they put their face? I also saw that some people were heartbroken and criticized that this is not the "historic agreement" Trump spoke of, but rather "historic extortion"! How to explain?
"Japan's promised $550 billion is merely a ransom paid under Trump's tariff threats—equivalent to 12% of its GDP, held hostage by Trump's 45-day ultimatum. This is not a partnership at all, but extortion." Japan, oh Japan, if you've really been extorted, just blink, haha. In the end, how do we see it? Let's say three simple points. First, the U.S. has used strong-arm tactics against Japan. In the previous Japanese elections, Trump unhesitatingly interfered in Japan's internal affairs, openly supporting Sato Sakurai. Could this be without reward?
Sure enough, after Sato won, Trump immediately announced that Japan would start spending money on three major projects. I saw some Japanese people criticizing that Sato Sakurai's move is completely sacrificing the nation's interests to please Trump. After all, this money is also the hard-earned money of the Japanese people. Some Japanese netizens lamented: Seeing Japan's concession is a burden heavy enough to sink Japan for half a century. This is not what I said, this is what the Japanese themselves said. Next, Trump's bamboo pole will continue to strike hard, and who will be affected but Japan? The lessons of history are repeatedly played out: those who try to buy peace with money often end up losing even that peace.
Second, Japan is seriously entangled in U.S. internal politics. If Japan does not spend money, they won't get past Trump's hurdle; but if Japan spends money, is that truly good for Japan? Don't forget that the projects Trump chose are all greatly beneficial to the Republican Party; this is completely using Japan's money to win over his supporters. The Democrats are watching closely; will they not resent this? Yes, Trump is using a knife to kill, but Japan, you are that knife. If the Republicans continue to govern, it's fine; but if the Democrats come to power, what will happen to these projects? Japan might find itself in a tough spot. In the long river of international politics, what bettors fear most is not losing their chips, but discovering they are at the wrong table.
Third, the whole world is watching. After all, according to Trump's statement, because of his tariff stick, various parties have promised substantial investments in the U.S., totaling $9 trillion. For example, South Korea promised $350 billion. Because South Korea approved the agreement too slowly, Trump recently announced that tariffs on South Korean goods would rise from 15% to 25%! For South Korea, this is clearly a warning; Japan has become a good example set by Trump. But being a good example comes at a great cost! Alas, in front of Trump, Sato Sakurai shows off affection in various ways, holding arms and taking intimate photos, but in the end, Japan still has to pay, and a large sum at that; this is just the beginning. Trump announced a big news, feeling delighted; Japanese people are left with broken teeth and blood to swallow, wanting to cry but having no tears! In this world, evil people have their evil people to deal with them.