'Japan's export curbs on South are likely to bring conservatives together for election'

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe looks on as a journalist raises a hand during a press conference of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, Saturday. EPA-Yonhap

By Park Ji-won

Japan's actions Monday to impose restrictions on exports to Korean companies of high-tech materials and chemicals is likely a move by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to attract more conservative voters before July 21 upper house elections, according to experts.

"The restrictions against South Korean companies will not have a huge impact on the outcome of the elections in Japan, where Abe is expected to win. But the move is likely aimed to bring conservatives together, especially by collecting Abe's supporters and thus shift the focus," Japan's Keisen University professor Lee Young-chae said during a local radio interview, Tuesday. "It is an important race for Abe to win more seats in this time as he is thinking of a Constitutional revision in the near future."

Citing mounting criticism in Japan over its poor diplomatic achievements at the G20 Summit it hosted, which may negatively influence the election, Hanshin University professor Ha Jong-moon stressed "Korea-bashing" is the last option for Tokyo to use to overcome political difficulties so Abe can achieve his goals such as turning Japan into a more right-leaning country and expand its military power amid the conciliatory mood between the two Koreas and the United States.

The commentaries came after Abe's recent political moves to embrace far-right extremists to gain more domestic support, insiders point out.

An NHK survey last week showed that the approval rating of Abe's Cabinet was 42 percent, down 6 percentage points from two weeks earlier. The disapproval rating was 34 percent, up 2 percentage points.

This is not the first time for Abe's administration to take a hawkish stance against South Korea in an apparent move to elevate his support rate.

When Abe faced an alleged data rigging scandal on "Abenomics" at the beginning of the year, he apparently used a radar dispute between Seoul and Japan, and was able to shift public attention toward it. He was also able to boost his administration's support rating thanks to the move.

However, the move could backfire as it drew sharp criticism even from Japanese politicians as it contradicted an early declaration at last week's G20 Summit, which called for a "free, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, predictable and stable trade and investment environment."

Even Japanese newspapers expressed concern over the government's de facto countermeasure against the forced labor issue, as it will negatively affect Japanese firms.

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