Abe Says He Perceives COVID-19, Not Nuclear War, as the 'Third World War'

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reportedly compared the response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) to a 'Third World War.'

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun on the 16th, Prime Minister Abe met with veteran journalist Soichiro Tahara at the Prime Minister's residence on the 10th and described the fight against COVID-19 as a 'Third World War,' stating that he is responding accordingly.

Mr. Tahara revealed this information recently on his blog, saying, "I thought the Third World War would probably be a nuclear war, but I now recognize the spread of this virus as the Third World War."

Mr. Tahara analyzed Abe's remarks as a shift from a 'peacetime mindset' to a 'wartime mindset,' leading to the declaration of a state of emergency. Japan declared a state of emergency on the 7th for seven regions, including Tokyo. Prime Minister Abe also explained that the delay in declaring the state of emergency under the Special Measures Law was because "most of the cabinet members opposed it."

Regarding the lack of enforcement power in the request to refrain from going out, Abe said, "Not having penalty provisions during such times is part of the postwar Japanese system," adding, "(If penalty provisions were established) it would become coercive politics."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.