Japan Shows Coronavirus May Be a Gift--for Would-Be Dictators
TOKYO—Early in the coronavirus crisis, a senior lawmaker from Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party made a speech referring to the mysterious, frightening, and fast-spreading disease. “Maybe we should think of it as a great experiment,” he said.
But his thinking was not epidemiological—it was purely political, and in some ways as frightening as the sickness since named COVID-19.
The politician was telling the party faithful that this might be the chance to realize their long-standing dream: the addition of a new clause to Japan’s post-World War II constitution that would let the prime minister rule with an iron fist in an emergency. The looming coronavirus outbreak could be such an occasion, he argued.
Think about it. The highly repressive Chinese Communist Party, after arresting and intimidating whistleblowers early in the outbreak, has since won acclaim from the World Health Organization for imposing draconian quarantines on tens of millions of people. This weekend, South Korea went on high alert, preparing to take what may be similar measures. Italy—Italy!—has locked down 50,000 people, with more restrictions expected soon.
Snip
https://www.thedailybeast.com/japans-coronavirus-cruise-ship-debacle-shows-epidemic-can-be-a-gift-for-would-be-dictators?ref=home
{Long read but very informative}
= new reply since forum marked as read
