News

On April 22, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, "India's Transformation Under Modi: The Prime Minister's Vision of Strong Leadership" was published. The article is based on an interview with Professor Masaki Kondo, Senior Associate Professor at the International Christian University, who is an expert on India's economic situation, on how India's economy has transformed after two terms and ten years of the Modi administration. Professor Ichihara commented that freedom of speech in India has been severely curtailed under the Modi administration. She noted that human rights NGOs researching government policies have been subjected to dubious accusations, leading to their closure. She remarked that under such circumstances, it has become nearly impossible to hold conferences on human rights and democracy in India.

On April 3, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law was published in the Asia Democracy Chronicles article, “In Constant Search for Support.” This article is about the situation of Hong Kong democracy activists outside of mainland China, such as in Tokyo, Japan, following the announcement of Hong Kong's National Security Law. Professor Ichihara noted that the strategy chosen by Hong Kong activists is the “suitable style of communication” in Japan. Regarding Japan's official position on Hong Kong, Professor Ichihara emphasized that Japan stands out from the rest of Asia and that the erosion of democracy in Hong Kong poses a diplomatic challenge to the Japanese government.

The Nordic Talk program, “Democracy and Dictatorship in a Digital World,” where Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law participated was released on April 3, 2024. This program focuses on how digital tools can be utilized to defend peace and democracy. It discusses the challenges and opportunities that the state of digital media presents for democratic societies, as well as the future of global democracy in the digital age. Professor Ichihara stated that she believes digital technology is a liberating technology because it empowers individuals with significant influence on an international scale. However, she also pointed out that ordinary people face issues, such as filter bubbles, and that many countries suffer from the impact of disinformation from other nations. She discussed the importance of digital literacy, the need to strengthen fact-checking, and the necessity to think about ways to create counter-narratives.

On February 27, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law was published in the Maaseudun Tulevaisuus newspaper's article "The Chinese electric car of the president's spouse may be a security risk - the Chinese state has extensive rights to information." The article discusses concerns related to China's emergence as the top exporter of passenger cars, surpassing Japan for the first time, and the Finnish President's positive evaluation of China. However, it also highlights potential security risks from the perspective of data protection and national security. Professor Ichihara explained that Chinese IT companies are obligated to provide information to the government upon request, and she expressed concerns about various possibilities of influence and data theft, including the spread of propaganda and disinformation, as well as leaving backdoors in 5G networks.

On March 18, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, “Putin Declares Victory in Russian Presidential Election, Rivaling Stalin in 30 Years of Reign” was published. This article discusses the re-election of the incumbent President Vladimir Putin for a fifth term in the Russian presidential election. Professor Ichihara noted that Japanese media reported on this Russian election with a more balanced perspective that incorporated political considerations than ever. She also commented that the election demonstrated that authoritarian countries are not monolithic and that domestic vulnerabilities exist, which can surface at any time and in various forms.

On March 17, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, "Demonstrating Will to the Government: 'Anti-Putin Noon Protests' Held Throughout Russia" was published. This article covers the events of the final day of the Russian presidential election on March 17, when supporters of the opposition leader Alexey Navalny called for "anti-regime actions" at noon local time, resulting in lines forming at polling stations across Russia. Professor Ichihara pointed out that while Putin attempted to use the election to legitimize his position, it ultimately weakened his standing in the international community. She also commented that the international community should seriously consider ways to show solidarity with the anti-Putin factions moving forward.

On February 19, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article, "Wife of Navalny Pledges to Carry on His Legacy: About 60,000 Demand Handover of His Body" was published. This article is about the demand to hand over the body of Russian anti-government leader Alexey Navalny, who died in prison, to his family. Professor Ichihara commented that only the people of the country can change the state of their country and that she hopes the outrage over Navalny's death will continue to spread and become a groundswell in Russia, and that it is important for foreign countries to continue to provide moral support to Russians who speak out.

On March 27, 2024, Sascha Hannig Nuñez, a doctoral student in the Graduate School of Law, was invited as a guest to deliver a lecture titled "China and the Keys to Its Global Influence" on the podcast “World Analysis (Análisis Mundial),” an initiative launched by the University Finish Terrae. During the discussion, Ms. Hannig talked about the current technology-related tensions between the United States and China, as well as how the two powers exercise pressure over Chile and Latin America as a whole. The discussion also touched upon potential risks related to authoritarian influence and how countries are taking sides in an eventual new form of Cold War. In this lecture, she discussed in detail the relationship between China and the United States, Beijing's technological capabilities, and China's relations with Latin America.

On February 19, 2024, a comment of Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law on the Asahi Shimbun article "Young People Avoid Discussing Human Rights Out of Fear: Journalist Koichi Yasuda's Concerns" was published. This article is about an interview with Koichi Yasuda, a journalist who says that although the younger generation, in particular, is highly interested in "human rights," a fundamental right that everyone should respect, he increasingly feels that the term "human rights" is shunned, feared, and sometimes made fun of in the field of reporting. Professor Ichihara commented that it is not so much that young people as a whole tend to avoid discussions about human rights, but rather that the sense of ownership—seeing themselves as stakeholders in these issues—has become more polarized compared to the past.

On March 14, 2024, La Tercera published a comment of Ms. Sascha Hannig Nuñez, a doctoral student in the Graduate School of Law, in the article "Study assures that Chile is the country most influenced by Chinese YouTube channels in Latin America." This article discusses the joint research conducted by the Center for Analysis for Democracy (CAD) and Freedom House, which examined the behavior of Beijing's propaganda media in Spanish across more than 14,000 videos. The research revealed that Chile is the most mentioned country in the region, with the most predominant topics being related to the pandemic and economic cooperation. Ms. Hannig noted that Chile's elite class has a very friendly attitude toward China, which makes it easier for them to enter the academic and business world. She commented that China's interest in Chile is also related to its potential to expand its influence over other countries in the region.