The following is a continuation of the article by Hideo Tamura, published in the monthly magazine 'Sound Argument,' entitled 'Now is the time to implement 'home economy first thoroughly.'
Surplus funds go to China
What about the international financial environment?
As mentioned earlier, the Lehman Shock in 2008 triggered China's rapid economic growth until it took on U.S. hegemony.
At that time, the United States embarked on a quantitative easing policy in which the U.S. Federal Reserve Board (FRB) issued zero interest rates and large amounts of dollar funds in an attempt to avoid the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Financial markets have gradually calmed down, and consumers have maintained their consumption.
The Chinese economy returned to a double-digit high-growth trajectory, as China launched a low-price export offensive to obtain a large number of dollars and easily expanded its finances.
The Fed stopped its quantitative easing policy in the fall of 2014, but Japan's Abenomics, which began last year, has attracted a large number of surplus funds from Japan to the New York market.
Huge surplus money at ultra-low interest rates flows from the United States to China and elsewhere in search of investment destinations.
China will increase foreign currency debt and endure capital flight.
It is the equation of China's expansion from the financial point of view after Lehman.
The new Coronavirus shock is trying to recreate the financial model after Lehman.
So is the Fed's easing measures ahead of the ensuing stock crash, and the European Central Bank has also announced quantitative expansion.
There is no doubt that the issuance of central banks in the U.S. and Europe will significantly increase surplus funds in the financial markets.
The Bank of Japan has made small additions, such as the purchase of ETFs linked to stock prices, due to the limit of monetary easing policies. Still, there is no doubt that the issuance of central banks in the U.S. and Europe will significantly increase surplus funds in the financial markets.
Besides, the oil market, where speculative funds should usually go after selling stocks, has fallen sharply above stock prices.
Oil prices have fallen to one-third of the previous level, at $ 20 a barrel as of March 18, due to a forecast of a sharp drop in oil demand due to the decline in the real economy following the shock of the new coronavirus.
It will not only spur China's diplomatic attack on oil-producing countries in the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa.
China, the world's largest oil importer, can reduce the burden on the national economy as a whole.
Chinese companies struggling to pay their foreign currency debt can be refinanced with very low interest and ample surplus funds.
China's giants looking to expand their market share can raise as many low-cost funds as they like in overseas markets.
What should Japan do?
Building the "New Japan-China Era," which means strengthening the Xi administration's cooperation with China, was the most prominent theme of Mr. Xi's postponed visit to the state guest.
Japan could be overwhelmed in a situation where the Chinese economy, which had been stalled until the spread of the virus, could come back to life and accelerate its expansion again.
The Japanese economy fell to an annualized minus 7.1% compared to the previous quarter in GDP in the fourth quarter of last year due to a 10% consumption tax rate.
It is an inevitable situation that the negative margin will expand further from the January to March quarter due to the overthrow of the new coronavirus shock.
If the hope of a V-shaped recovery can be seen in China, economic circles will be highlighted by cooperation with China.
And the weak areas such as Hokkaido will become more and more inclined to the Chinese capital, and shopping streets nationwide will rely on Chinese tourists for inbound consumption. Will strengthen.
What a Shinzo Abe administration should take isn't any longer the cooperation with China.
It should turn a rudder to de- China bravely.
Given the potential for expanding the gap between Japan and China over the economic power following the Corona Disaster, leaning on the dependence on China would be the most natural path. Still, in this case, the scenario swallowed by China will take on the real stock.
The only way to prevent this from happening is to reinforce the domestic economy first, focusing on bold internal demand expansion measures to escape negative growth.
Eliminate consumption tax until economic revival.
Government bonds may cover the shortfall.
Japan has over 1,000 trillion yen in surplus funds, including households and businesses.
And it is the largest creditor in the world.
With the decision of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to mobilize the vast resources of excess money for his country, the Japanese economy will see a way to revive tomorrow.
The Corona Disaster is an opportunity to switch to a route that blocks the threat of expanding China.