Japan's ruling coalition faces election setback amid deep-seated social issues: expert

A Japanese scholar on Thursday pointed out deep-rooted social issues are key drivers behind the political defeat of Japan's ruling coalition in the general election.

Following Japan's general election on Oct 27, the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its partner Komeito fell short of the majority threshold, bringing political uncertainty to an economy that is already facing an array of challenges.

The LDP and Komeito got a total of 215 of the 465 seats in the powerful chamber of parliament, below the 233 seats needed for the majority. The LDP alone won 191 seats, much less than the 247 seats it held prior to the election.

In contrast, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party significantly increased its representation, rising from 98 seats before the election to 148 seats.

"One of the reasons the Ishiba government isn't popular is due to the persistent funding scandal, but that's not the only reason. What most people are worried about is obviously the economy and their salaries. Following that are concerns about social welfare and security. Currently, prices in Japan are skyrocketing, with housing costs in places like Tokyo continually on the rise. However, salary increments have failed to keep pace. Consequently, people are feeling the pinch in their day-to-day life," said Ryo Sahashi, a professor at the Institute of Advanced Studies on Asia, University of Tokyo. Japan's parliament is scheduled to convene a special session starting on Nov 11 following the general election. The question of whether the current Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba can secure reelection has become a focal point of public interest and scrutiny.

Expressing apprehension, Sahashi highlights a growing concern that Japan is on the brink of entering another turbulent phase, regardless of the election outcome.

"Before 2012, Japan went through a period where it had six prime ministers in six years. This time highlighted that extreme instability makes it impossible to carry out significant strategies or policies. It is crucial to steer clear of a recurrence of this scenario. However, current developments suggest a return to a similar situation, causing us significant concern," said Sahashi.

Japan's ruling coalition faces election setback amid deep-seated social issues: expert

Japan's ruling coalition faces election setback amid deep-seated social issues: expert

A new direct passenger flight route from Ningbo City of east China's Zhejiang Province to Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh opened on Wednesday, which also marked the first international flight out of the city's airport in 2025.

The new flight departs from the Ningbo Lishe International Airport at 13:30 and takes just under four and a half hours to reach the Cambodian capital. Operated by Cambodian airlines, it is scheduled to fly every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with the return flight departing Phnom Penh at 07:40 local time on the same days.

The direct route provides an important travel option for tourists, especially those from Ningbo and the surrounding areas. Pang Cuili, a Ningbo resident who had to transit in Shanghai for a midnight arrival in Phnom Penh, said the new service now offers much greater convenience.

"We'll fly at 13:30 and arrive at around 16:50. It’s very convenient [timing] for us to check into the hotel after arriving," she said.

As the capital and largest city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh has long been an important international aviation hub in Southeast Asia, with the new route giving a further boost to the economic and cultural exchanges between Ningbo and ASEAN countries.

"Today marks the first flight of Ningbo Airport's regular direct passenger service to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The opening of this route is also an important move for the airport to help implement the Belt and Road Initiative, enriching international passenger transport routes, and further speeding up the recovery of the international market," said Chen Qiaoyu, manager of the Market Development Department at the Ningbo Lishe International Airport.

As Cambodia Airlines' first route out of Ningbo Airport, the new service also signals the airline's broader plans to connect various parts of China with Cambodia in the coming year.

Ningbo airport launches first direct flight to Phnom Penh