ID :
19286
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 21:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/19286
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Aso vows to build friendly relationship with S. Korea, China
TOKYO, Sept. 12 Kyodo - Taro Aso, widely seen as the front-runner among candidates to become Japan's next prime minister, said Friday he would build a friendly relationship with China and South Korea despite his hawkish reputation, while emphasizing that ties with the United States are the most important to Japan.
The 67-year-old Aso, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party and one of five candidates for the presidency of the ruling party, acknowledged, ''There are concerns I may antagonize China and South Korea'' in possibly becoming prime minister.
South Korea is a country that Japan has to team with, and Japan has to aim for ''common benefits'' with China, Aso said in a debate with the four other candidates running in the Sept. 22 election.
The next LDP president is certain to assume the post of prime minister due to the party's majority in the House of Representatives, the powerful lower house of the Diet.
''I have never had such an irresponsible idea of thinking about Japan's future without the United States,'' Aso said, vowing to continue Japan's antiterrorism refueling mission in the Indian Ocean.
Former LDP policy chief Nobuteru Ishihara, 51, former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike, 56, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, 51, and Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano, 70, also touched on the importance of the Japan-U.S. relationship in the debate.
Aso and Ishiba also expressed belief that it is necessary to enact a permanent law to authorize the overseas dispatch of Self-Defense Forces troops for international peacekeeping missions.
On South Korea, Aso said it is a democratic country and an alliance partner of the United States, while it is close to Japan in terms of culture as it is mainly made up of the middle class.
Aso also said that while he was foreign minister, he made efforts to mend the Japan-China relationship which had deteriorated under the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
''We should welcome China's economic development, and should not regard it with hostility,'' Aso said, adding that Japan-China friendship is a means to achieve common benefits for the two countries.
On a possible dissolution of the House of Representatives, Yosano and Ishiba each said that if he replaces Yasuo Fukuda as prime minister, he would not immediately dissolve the lower house for a general election, in order to prioritize the enactment of an extra budget.
Ishihara also said that the best option is to dissolve the lower house after passing an emergency economic package, including the extra budget, by holding discussions with opposition parties.
Expectations are growing in the ruling coalition of the LDP and the New Komeito party that the lower house will be dissolved in early October, with the government and ruling parties seeking a lower house election possibly in November.
The ruling coalition told opposition parties Friday that an extraordinary Diet session will convene Sept. 24 for a 68-day run, with a vote set for the same day to choose the new prime minister.
On economic policy, Aso emphasized the need to increase public spending, while citing tax breaks for capital investment in the areas of research and development and reducing tax for housing acquisition as measures to boost the economy.
Koike said she will succeed structural reforms pursued under the Koizumi Cabinet, saying, ''Carrying on the reforms will produce new industry and new places for employment...I strongly feel that it is necessary to proceed with Japan's reform with conviction.''
On the government goal of achieving a budget surplus on a primary balance basis in fiscal 2011, Ishihara, Koike, Ishiba and Yosano said they would like to maintain the goal, but Aso suggested postponing the goal due to the deteriorating economic condition.
A primary balance surplus will be realized when outlays other than debt-servicing costs are covered by revenues without relying on fresh debt issuance.
''The prerequisite has changed from the time when the goal was made,'' Aso said, while saying there is a need to review the government's policy of cutting natural increases in social security outlays by 220 billion yen every year.
The 67-year-old Aso, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party and one of five candidates for the presidency of the ruling party, acknowledged, ''There are concerns I may antagonize China and South Korea'' in possibly becoming prime minister.
South Korea is a country that Japan has to team with, and Japan has to aim for ''common benefits'' with China, Aso said in a debate with the four other candidates running in the Sept. 22 election.
The next LDP president is certain to assume the post of prime minister due to the party's majority in the House of Representatives, the powerful lower house of the Diet.
''I have never had such an irresponsible idea of thinking about Japan's future without the United States,'' Aso said, vowing to continue Japan's antiterrorism refueling mission in the Indian Ocean.
Former LDP policy chief Nobuteru Ishihara, 51, former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike, 56, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, 51, and Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano, 70, also touched on the importance of the Japan-U.S. relationship in the debate.
Aso and Ishiba also expressed belief that it is necessary to enact a permanent law to authorize the overseas dispatch of Self-Defense Forces troops for international peacekeeping missions.
On South Korea, Aso said it is a democratic country and an alliance partner of the United States, while it is close to Japan in terms of culture as it is mainly made up of the middle class.
Aso also said that while he was foreign minister, he made efforts to mend the Japan-China relationship which had deteriorated under the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
''We should welcome China's economic development, and should not regard it with hostility,'' Aso said, adding that Japan-China friendship is a means to achieve common benefits for the two countries.
On a possible dissolution of the House of Representatives, Yosano and Ishiba each said that if he replaces Yasuo Fukuda as prime minister, he would not immediately dissolve the lower house for a general election, in order to prioritize the enactment of an extra budget.
Ishihara also said that the best option is to dissolve the lower house after passing an emergency economic package, including the extra budget, by holding discussions with opposition parties.
Expectations are growing in the ruling coalition of the LDP and the New Komeito party that the lower house will be dissolved in early October, with the government and ruling parties seeking a lower house election possibly in November.
The ruling coalition told opposition parties Friday that an extraordinary Diet session will convene Sept. 24 for a 68-day run, with a vote set for the same day to choose the new prime minister.
On economic policy, Aso emphasized the need to increase public spending, while citing tax breaks for capital investment in the areas of research and development and reducing tax for housing acquisition as measures to boost the economy.
Koike said she will succeed structural reforms pursued under the Koizumi Cabinet, saying, ''Carrying on the reforms will produce new industry and new places for employment...I strongly feel that it is necessary to proceed with Japan's reform with conviction.''
On the government goal of achieving a budget surplus on a primary balance basis in fiscal 2011, Ishihara, Koike, Ishiba and Yosano said they would like to maintain the goal, but Aso suggested postponing the goal due to the deteriorating economic condition.
A primary balance surplus will be realized when outlays other than debt-servicing costs are covered by revenues without relying on fresh debt issuance.
''The prerequisite has changed from the time when the goal was made,'' Aso said, while saying there is a need to review the government's policy of cutting natural increases in social security outlays by 220 billion yen every year.
