What are the main issues in the US presidential election?
November 4, 7:49
We have summarized the main issues in the US presidential election.
Correspondence to new coronavirus
In the United States, the death toll from the new coronavirus has exceeded 230,000, the highest in the world.
The cumulative number of infected people has exceeded 9.2 million, accounting for about 20% of the world total.
On October 30, the number of people infected per day was close to 100,000, the highest ever, and the situation continues to be serious.
(* All numbers are as of 31st)
As the infection spread in the country, President Trump revealed that he had been infected on the 2nd of last month (October).
At one point, he had symptoms of high fever and coughing, and was given oxygen inhalation. He was hospitalized for a full three days.
In addition to Mrs. Melania and her son Baron, the infection spread to the administration's core, including White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany and White House Counsel Hicks.
A series of positives were confirmed at a press conference appointing a federal Supreme Court judge at the White House in September, so the outbreak did not occur at this large-scale conference. It was also criticized.
President Trump is often criticized for downplaying the dangers of the new coronavirus.
"I didn't want to panic," he said, saying that "the risk is extremely low" at the beginning.
He said that his response to the new virus was appropriate, saying that "2.5 million people would have died if he had not responded properly." He also called the new virus "Chinese virus" and spread the infection. I have repeatedly claimed that the responsibility lies with China.
Mr. Biden has been criticizing the Trump administration's missteps, saying, "President Trump was aware of the danger of the virus, but did not tell the public and did nothing to do." ..
Meanwhile, President Trump said he would make the drug available to the public free of charge, saying that the administration of an antibody drug under development, which is under clinical trials, dramatically improved his symptoms. I am suing.
He also emphasizes that the government is rushing to develop a vaccine for the new coronavirus.
The head of the government's development plan has indicated that if the efficacy and safety of multiple vaccines can be confirmed, it will be possible to prepare an amount that can be given to 30 million people from this month to next month.
However, regarding the timing of supply to a wide range of people, Director Redfield of the US CDC = Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has indicated that it will be after next spring.
Attitude toward economic recovery
The US economy recovered to 3.5%, the first level in half a century, in February, and President Trump has appealed that it is a result of his own economic policy.
However, the spread of the new coronavirus has hit the economy hard.
What makes the difference between the two camps particularly clear in the election campaign is the attitude toward the recovery of the depressed economy.
While President Trump has taken the position of prioritizing the resumption of economic activity, Mr. Biden has taken the position of emphasizing infection control measures.
President Trump resumed economic activity on the fact that the unemployment rate, which had deteriorated to the 14% level, improved to the 7% level, and that the GDP growth rate from July to September recovered to + 33% on an annualized basis. Claims to be the result of aggressive promotion.
However, as the spread of infected people in Japan will not be stopped, Mr. Biden says that economic activities should be resumed carefully, and he is calling for thorough infection prevention measures such as wearing masks.
Among voters, there are voices saying "I want to get back to my daily life and work quickly", while there are also voices saying "I am afraid of the spread of infection", and the difference between the two camps' claims is the voter's vote. The focus is on how it affects behavior.
Racism issue
In May, a black man, George Floyd, died in the Midwestern Minnesota with his neck held down by a police officer, following the spread of racist protests across the United States. Racism is one of the most important issues in this presidential election.
Democratic candidate Biden said the nationwide protests were a testament to the structural persistence of discrimination against blacks in American society, showing his understanding of the protests and eliminating racism. We have set out the attitude we are aiming for.
On the other hand, President Trump is in the position that structural discrimination against blacks is less than in former American society.
Rather, some mob demonstrators threatened security in the United States, calling for "law and order" and calling on the governors of each state to send police officers and national guards to strengthen security. In addition, he has shown his willingness to dispatch federal troops if necessary.
Mattis over the fact that President Trump mentioned the dispatch of federal troops and that those who were peacefully demonstrating in front of the White House were exiled using tear gas to take pictures of the president. Former Secretary of Defense and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dempsey, and other former military officials expressed strong concerns and caused ripples.
Secretary of Defense Esper also expressed negative views on the dispatch of federal troops to the protests, and the gap between President Trump and the Pentagon over responding to racist protests has surfaced.
In addition, since similar events have continued after Mr. Floyd's death, some leftists of the Democratic Party have said that the police budget should be reduced.
Under these circumstances, President Trump strongly opposes budget cuts, saying that it will weaken the police.
"Mr. Biden is trying to cut the police budget," he repeatedly claims.
In response, Mr. Biden strongly denied budget cuts, but said he would ban racist investigations and promote judicial reforms to investigate and monitor police officers' torts.
In the United States, it has been pointed out that the appearance of President Trump has stimulated white supremacists.
In August 2017, in Charlottesville, Southern Virginia, a group advocating white supremacism and far-right ideology clashed violently with a civilian group protesting it, resulting in casualties.
President Trump said that he was "responsible for both sides," which led to strong criticism that he was "defending white supremacists."
Mr. Biden said that President Trump's strong sense of crisis was one of the reasons he ran for the presidential election.
Biden has also reinforced criticism that President Trump did not explicitly condemn white supremacy at the September television debate.
In addition, as protests against racial discrimination spread throughout the United States, there was a debate over whether to remove the statues and flags of Confederate soldiers who supported slavery from public places during the Civil War. Is also increasing.
Conservatives in the South still have a strong sense of "pride" in the history of the Confederate States, and President Trump strongly opposes that denying the Confederate States is a denial of American history.
He has signed a presidential decree that imposes severe punishment on the act of destroying the statue, and has expressed his intention to exercise veto power as president if a bill to change the name of the military base named after the Confederate general is passed. ..
On the other hand, Mr. Biden expressed the idea that "the symbol of the Confederate States is a symbol of the division of the United States" and prohibited the bringing of the Confederate flag to his rally, and the statue of the Confederate States was from public places. It claims that it is appropriate to remove it and store it in a museum.
Differences in diplomatic policy
President Trump has advocated "America First" and has taken a negative position on globalism, prioritizing his own claims and conveniences over international cooperation, and promoting diplomacy without hesitation with allies.
On the other hand, former Vice President Biden has indicated that he will protect the interests of the middle class in the United States, regain leadership in the international community, and place greater importance on international cooperation and alliances.
President Trump has decided to withdraw from the TPP = Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, the Iran Nuclear Agreement, and the "Paris Agreement" to combat global warming, which the former Obama administration has been promoting.
Furthermore, in response to the spread of the new coronavirus infection, the WHO = World Health Organization was also notified that it was closer to China.
In response, Mr. Biden criticized the United States as isolated under President Trump and has stated that he will return to the "Paris Agreement" and withdraw from WHO.
Regarding relations with allies, President Trump urged each country to increase defense costs because the burden on the United States is heavy and unequal, while Mr. Biden emphasized the Asia-Pacific region and made relations with allies such as Japan and Australia. It is supposed to be strengthened.
Regarding North Korea's nuclear and missile issues, President Trump has met with Kim Jong-eun, the chairman of the Korean Labor Party, three times, claiming that there are no nuclear or long-range missile tests, while Mr. Biden said. President Trump has justified North Korea and criticized it for failing to stop its nuclear and missile development.
In the situation in Iran, President Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal and imposed economic sanctions to increase pressure, while Mr. Biden argued that the nuclear deal promoted by the former Obama administration should be restored.
In the policy toward China, President Trump has repeatedly stated that "the spread of the new coronavirus is due to China," and has made a stronger claim by expressing his intention to seek compensation for damages.
The Trump administration has taken a policy of increasing pressure in all aspects of political and economic security under a national strategy that positions China as a competitor in grand competition.
Trade policy urged trade negotiations by raising tariffs on imports from China, citing a large trade deficit with China as a problem.
In addition, he showed a strong sense of caution about the development of China in the field of cutting-edge technology, demanded measures for technology transfer and intellectual property, and tried to lock out Chinese products in each country in the field of next-generation communication technology 5G. ..
It also clarified China's stance against the advance into the ocean, activated the activities of the U.S. military in the South China Sea, and changed the policy that had been neutral to the territorial dispute in September. He has stated that China's claim to own interests in almost the entire South China Sea is completely illegal.
On human rights issues, the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region has imposed sanctions on government officials for human rights violations, and has decided to abolish preferential treatment in Hong Kong, where China has tightened control.
We are also increasing pressure over Taiwan and are embarking on support for strengthening our armaments, such as deciding to sell a new F16 fighter.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a speech in July that the "engagement policy" of successive administrations that emphasized relations with China did not lead to democratization of China, and in fact failed, and pressured to change policy. I made it.
Biden, on the other hand, said that pressure on China was not enough, and that global issues such as climate variability, nuclear non-proliferation, and measures against the new coronavirus should be negotiated with China, and that international norms Based on this, it shows an attitude of drawing in China and encouraging change.
In particular, regarding the new virus countermeasures, President Trump considers that he has reduced the number of infectious disease countermeasure specialists dispatched to China during the Obama administration, and is also thinking of seeking cooperation with China in global infection prevention measures. is showing.
Mr. Biden and the Democratic Party of Japan have originally shown a strong position on human rights issues, and are willing to strengthen relations with allies and neighboring countries against China's advance into the ocean and expansion of military influence. It has been launched.
In the United States, public sentiment toward China has worsened than ever, and the spread of the new coronavirus infection has led to 73% of people who answered that China was "unfavorable" in the polls from June to July. It was the worst in 15 years.
In addition, the parliament unanimously passed a bill including sanctions on senior Chinese government officials over Hong Kong and Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region and a bill to support Taiwan, supporting a bipartisan and strong policy toward China. I will.
For this reason, many experts believe that regardless of whether President Trump or Mr. Biden is in power, he will continue to take a strict stance toward China.
What is the US-Japan relationship?
President Trump, who advocates America first, and former Vice President Biden, who emphasizes the alliance with allies.
Due to the differences in diplomatic and trade policies, the outcome of the presidential election may affect US-Japan relations.
The Trump administration has shown a firm stance against China's advance into the ocean, and has stated that the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture are "under Japanese administration" and that the United States has a defense obligation. ..
On the other hand, he insists that "allies are free to ride on the security of the US military deployed all over the world," and demands that the allies increase their defense budget and bear the cost of stationing the US military.
If President Trump is reelected, this attitude will not change.
On the other hand, within the Democratic Party, the influence of the left wing called "progressive" is increasing, which appeals to reduce defense spending and send it to social security.
In addition, the Democratic Party has suggested the rationalization of the military, such as stating in the policy platform announced for the presidential election that "stabilize defense spending and work on security while observing fiscal discipline," and this party's attitude is Biden. It may also be reflected in his security policy.
In the United States, the budget deficit is rapidly increasing due to the huge budget mobilization for antivirus measures, and it is expected that fiscal consolidation will be a big issue regardless of which one wins the presidential election.
With Japan, negotiations began last month (October) over the Japanese side's burden of stationing expenses for US forces in Japan, and negotiations will begin in earnest after the election.
If President Trump is re-elected, Japan is expected to face tough negotiations, but even if Mr. Biden wins, Japan may be burdened more than ever.
The focus in the trade sector involving Japan is whether the United States will return to the TPP = Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.
The TPP was promoted by the former Obama administration, and President Trump announced that he would withdraw from the negotiations.
President Trump emphasized that it was his own achievement, saying that he "protected domestic employment by leaving the TPP."
On the other hand, although the Democratic Party has stated that it will "work with allies to create rules for international trade with China in mind," it does not directly mention the TPP, and Mr. Biden does not show a clear attitude.
Behind this is believed to be the desire to retain the support of the workers and farmers who supported President Trump's victory in the last presidential election.
Therefore, it is unknown at this time whether Mr. Biden will return to the TPP if he wins.