[Video] Councilman Kamiya gives a clear explanation. / Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) / United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

The following is from X

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I want the Democratic Party to work with the Democratic Party of the United States to force corrupt politicians out of office.
More and more people are starting to realize this, so I hope that political parties will expand even further.

— Shiba @Arafor marriage hunting (@09takahiro10) February 9, 2025

引用元　https://x.com/goroyamada359/status/1888527586558619898

Everyone's comments

• It is fine to cooperate with international organizations, but we need to be careful to ensure that it does not undermine Japan's sovereignty.
• Shouldn't the government do more to explain to the public how these institutions are involved in Japanese policy?
• Although Japan claims to be independent in its diplomacy, it seems to be subject to too much external influence. It should prioritize national interests more.
• The involvement of agencies like USAID sometimes makes one wonder whether Japan's aid policies are truly in the country's interest.
• Japan is in a position where it is vulnerable to pressure from the United States, but it should carefully consider to what extent it should tolerate the influence of such institutions.
• According to announcements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan is cooperating quite proactively with international organizations, but I wonder what the intentions behind this are.
• If more people like Kamiya could explain these issues to the public in easy-to-understand terms, more people would become interested.
• While we do not intend to reject international cooperation, there is a danger that Japan's policy-making will lose its independence if it becomes too dependent on external organizations.
• The media should be covering these issues more extensively, so why is there so little coverage?
• In the diplomatic arena, American influence is inevitably strong, but if we continue to accept this as it is, I worry about what will happen to Japan's future.
• There needs to be more transparency about how Japan's tax money is being spent, and if they collaborate with outside organizations, they should clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of that collaboration.
• Is USAID's assistance really necessary? If there are areas that can be addressed through Japan's own policies, shouldn't that be given priority?
• Japan must not allow its policies to be indirectly manipulated through cooperation with outside organizations.
• In order to maintain its diplomatic independence, Japan needs to reconsider its approach to international cooperation more strategically.
• Looking at Japan's diplomacy to date, it seems to me that too many decisions have been made in line with American policy.
• It is a problem that the Japanese public has almost no opportunities to learn about the extent of involvement of international organizations.
• As Kamiya points out, in order to protect Japan's sovereignty, it is important to establish a diplomatic policy that is not too susceptible to outside influence.
• I feel that it is becoming increasingly important for us to gather information and make our own judgments, rather than simply relying on government announcements.
• There is nothing wrong with cooperating with external organizations, but it is necessary to build relationships that give top priority to Japan's national interests.
• In future foreign policy, I believe it is essential for Japan to not only rely on the United States, but also to have a solid strategy that is unique to Japan.

Editor A's opinion

I was reminded of the influence of international organizations after watching the easy-to-understand explanation by the Democratic Party's Sohei Kamiya about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). I don't usually pay much attention to the existence of these organizations, but it is worth noting that they may be deeply involved in Japanese policies.

First, regarding the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), this is one of the US administrative agencies, and it is said to be responsible for promoting administrative efficiency. However, in reality, it may affect the policies of each country under the pretext of monitoring and coordinating government agencies. We need to think carefully about whether this really exists only for "efficiency" or whether it has other intentions.

Another important issue for Japan is the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Although USAID was established with the aim of providing assistance to developing countries, its influence is so great that it is no longer just an aid agency; it functions as a means of implementing US foreign policy.

For example, if we look at the type of cooperative relationship the Japanese government has with USAID, we can see that they are cooperating in areas such as global health and economic assistance, as stated in the official announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, if they go beyond the scope of simple international cooperation and are influencing Japan's policy decisions, doesn't that lead to the undermining of Japan's independence as a sovereign nation?

Kamiya emphasizes that the Japanese people should know what kind of relationship Japan has with these organizations and to what extent they are influenced by them. I completely agree with this point. As an independent nation, policy decisions should be based on Japan's national interests and should not be influenced by external organizations.

Furthermore, when we look at the activities of USAID, the funds are provided by the US government, and it is natural that activities are carried out with the US national interest as the top priority. In the past, it has been pointed out that there are aspects that differ from purely humanitarian aid, such as supporting specific political forces under the pretext of aiding developing countries. It cannot be said that such actions have not influenced Japanese policies.

Furthermore, when we consider how Japan's foreign policy is decided, it is problematic that the government has not provided sufficient explanation to the public. International cooperation is necessary, but if it is pursued in a way that undermines Japan's sovereignty, then it is necessary to reconsider this.

After all, Japan has developed since the end of the war while being strongly influenced by the United States. However, perhaps it is time to reconsider whether maintaining this relationship in the future is really in Japan's best interest.

Japan is also heavily dependent on the US in terms of economic and security policies. However, in the coming era, Japan should decide its policies from its own perspective and prioritize its own interests. In particular, Japan needs to clarify its position in diplomacy and take strategic measures to protect its national interests, rather than simply following the US.

Furthermore, these issues should be discussed in greater depth in Japanese politics. There are few opportunities for the public to learn about Japan's relations with international organizations and the extent to which it is influenced by foreign countries. The media should also be proactive in reporting on these issues, but in reality they rarely do.

If more people like Kamiya could explain these issues in an easy-to-understand way, public awareness would change. Currently, many people have no opportunity to think deeply about the impact of these international organizations. However, considering Japan's future, it is essential that these issues be discussed more openly and that the public take an interest in them.

The path Japan should take from now on is to decide its national policy independently, rather than being swayed by external influences. Even if it continues international cooperation, it needs to proceed in a way that protects Japan's national interests. To do this, it is important to first deepen discussion of these issues within Japan and monitor the government's response.

Finally, as Kamiya pointed out, it is most important for each and every citizen to gather information and make a calm judgment. We should think carefully about what kind of relationships we should have with international organizations, and whether these relationships will truly be beneficial for Japan.

Written by: Editorial Department A

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