Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso on Monday implicitly likened the present Russian invasion of Ukraine to the bullying of weak kids, a comment that was shortly criticized by opposition lawmakers as insensitive.
“What sort of little one was being bullied throughout your childhood? The weak have been bullied. The robust weren’t bullied. The identical goes for international locations,” mentioned Aso, presently the vp of the ruling Liberal Democratic Occasion, in a stump speech in Chiba Prefecture close to Tokyo, forward of Sunday’s Home of Councillors election.
Aso, who held key posts resembling international minister, finance minister and deputy prime minister, made the remarks as he underscored the significance of bolstering deterrence amid safety challenges.
Aso additionally mentioned “international locations that look robust” are unlikely to be focused, including that these international locations can’t be bullied since they’d possible retaliate.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since February has triggered a raft of worldwide sanctions on Moscow, however there have but to be clear indicators of an finish to the unfolding disaster.
However some politicians took concern over Aso mentioning the difficulty of bullying within the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Renho, an higher home member and a senior member of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Occasion of Japan, took to Twitter to protest, saying that it was not applicable to imagine that each one the bullied kids are “weak.”
Aso, who served as prime minister from 2008 to 2009, has usually come underneath hearth for gaffes and controversial statements.
