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> Also the Japanese were possibly reluctant to see a big Japanese company (Nissan) subsumed into a large international behemoth (Ghosn was trying to formally me

> Also the Japanese were possibly reluctant to see a big Japanese company (Nissan) subsumed into a large international behemoth (Ghosn was trying to formally merge Renault and Nissan at the time of his arrest). This is the most likely explanation given Japan’s history of xenophobia and that Nissan is a very high profile, iconic Japanese company

techpop10 7y ago
This is exactly right. I have worked for Japanese companies, do not underestimate the weight cultural pride had in how they prosecuted this case. It's not like the US at all.
Xixi 7y ago
The reason the Japanese government stuck its nose in Ghosn affairs is not particularly secret: it was to prevent the merger of Renault and Nissan, and was driven by Nissan employees who felt the merger was very one-sided (all power going to France). This is what was said in Japanese media shortly after Ghosn arrest. But that's completely orthogonal as to whether Ghosn is guilty of anything. You don't get a free pass for fraud (embezzlement in this case) just because the context is political. I'm surprised that a lot of people are mixing these two things together. There is what Ghosn did, or is accused of doing (embezzlement), and there is why anyone went in to check (prevent the Renault Nissan merger). The US government is also well known to use its judicial branch to exert political pressure on foreign actors (see the Alstom buyout by GE). That doesn't make the fraud perpetrated by individuals somehow acceptable. But it can justify governments getting involved to prevent these individual actions having larger consequences.
- LifeLiverTransp 7y ago
  Right now we are back in medieval times, might makes right. If you have the power, you can create charges, evidence and flay some culprit like in the olden days. The whole lawsaying is by now the equivalent of some medieval peasant justifying witch burnings by stating that "In a world ruled by god, god would intervene against evil, thus she was evil. This the law.." Its just talking, to lower the mental load of the dis-sonance of thought and reality. This whole set of affairs lately, this is what civilisational downfall looks like. Im sure, all those cooperate warlords have done no wrong, to have such powers.

techpop10 7y ago

This is exactly right. I have worked for Japanese companies, do not underestimate the weight cultural pride had in how they prosecuted this case. It's not like the US at all.

Xixi 7y ago

The reason the Japanese government stuck its nose in Ghosn affairs is not particularly secret: it was to prevent the merger of Renault and Nissan, and was driven by Nissan employees who felt the merger was very one-sided (all power going to France). This is what was said in Japanese media shortly after Ghosn arrest. But that's completely orthogonal as to whether Ghosn is guilty of anything. You don't get a free pass for fraud (embezzlement in this case) just because the context is political. I'm surprised that a lot of people are mixing these two things together. There is what Ghosn did, or is accused of doing (embezzlement), and there is why anyone went in to check (prevent the Renault Nissan merger). The US government is also well known to use its judicial branch to exert political pressure on foreign actors (see the Alstom buyout by GE). That doesn't make the fraud perpetrated by individuals somehow acceptable. But it can justify governments getting involved to prevent these individual actions having larger consequences.

LifeLiverTransp 7y ago
Right now we are back in medieval times, might makes right. If you have the power, you can create charges, evidence and flay some culprit like in the olden days. The whole lawsaying is by now the equivalent of some medieval peasant justifying witch burnings by stating that "In a world ruled by god, god would intervene against evil, thus she was evil. This the law.." Its just talking, to lower the mental load of the dis-sonance of thought and reality. This whole set of affairs lately, this is what civilisational downfall looks like. Im sure, all those cooperate warlords have done no wrong, to have such powers.