Aso delivers 1st policy speech, provokes DPJ ahead of election

TOKYO, Sept. 29 Kyodo - Prime Minister Taro Aso delivered his first policy speech before the Diet on
Monday, adopting a confrontational approach to the main opposition Democratic
Party of Japan over pressing issues including an extra budget ahead of an
anticipated House of Representatives election.

''I would like (the DPJ) to show with a basis in argument at interpellations if
there is a part (of the extra budget) which it cannot accept. It is of course
acceptable to present an original idea, but clearly specifying the financial
resource is necessary,'' Aso, 68, said in the speech.
Before delivering the speech, Aso apologized for the resignation of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Nariaki Nakayama, who stepped
down Sunday only five days after his appointment over a series of controversial
remarks.
''The remarks were truly inappropriate and I deeply apologize to people,'' Aso
said.
Nakayama's successor, Kazuyoshi Kaneko, formally took office Monday, undergoing
an attestation ceremony at the Imperial Palace.
Aso, who launched his administration Wednesday, said he would ''only address
pressing issues'' in his policy speech and that he would enter into discussions
with the DPJ.
He called on the DPJ for debates over the 1.81 trillion yen supplementary
budget for the current fiscal year, which is to back up a package of emergency
economic measures, and extension of Japan's antiterrorism refueling mission in
the Indian Ocean.
Aso's aggressive stance toward the DPJ came as calls to dissolve the lower
house for an early general election gain strength following the abrupt
resignations of his two predecessors Shinzo Abe and Yasuo Fukuda, both around
one year after taking office.
On economic issues, Aso unveiled his vision of taking a three-step approach --
first to prop up the economy in the short term, second to rebuild state
finances in the medium term, and third to attain economic growth through reform
in the long term.
''There will not be fiscal reconstruction without economic development,'' Aso
said.
Aso said his government will make efforts to maintain the goal of achieving a
budget surplus on a primary balance basis in fiscal 2011.
A primary balance surplus is realized when outlays other than debt-servicing
costs are covered by revenues without relying on fresh debt issuance.
Meanwhile, the speech did not mention any prospects of a hike in the
consumption tax, which became one of the main topics during the presidential
election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party which Aso won last week.
On Japan's refueling mission, Aso stressed the importance of the Maritime
Self-Defense Force's activities, saying Japan engages in the mission for its
own sake.
''There is no choice for Japan, a member of the international community, to
withdraw from the activities at this time,'' Aso said, urging the DPJ to again
give its view on whether it wants Japan to discontinue the mission beyond
January when the current law authorizing the mission expires.
The opposition camp, which controls the House of Councillors, has opposed the
refueling mission, which led to a four-month suspension of the mission until
February after Aso's predecessor Fukuda failed to win parliamentary approval to
extend the then special authorization law.
Earlier in the day, the government submitted to the Diet a bill to extend the
temporary law authorizing the refueling mission for one year through January
2010.
On the diplomatic front, he stressed that strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance
is the most important priority, while also mentioning the need to build
regional stability and prosperity with Asia-Pacific nations including China,
South Korea and Russia.
On prioritizing the Japan-U.S. alliance, Aso, apparently referring to DPJ
President Ichiro Ozawa's U.N.-centered foreign policy, said Japan cannot commit
the destiny of the nation to the United Nations as the body as it now is can be
swayed by the intentions of a small number of countries.
''The DPJ has a responsibility to clarify to the Japanese people and the
world'' whether it intends to prioritize the Japan-U.S. alliance or the United
Nations, he said.
He also touched on North Korea, pledging to seek actions by the country to
inclusively resolve the abduction, nuclear and missile issues. He also called
for settling the past between the two countries and seeking normalization of
diplomatic relations while committing to stabilization of the Korean Peninsula.
On domestic policies, Aso said his government will make a ''necessary review''
of the unpopular healthcare insurance program for seniors aged 75 or older,
while strongly reflecting on confusing the public due to the lack of
explanation the public has received in the past.
The insurance program, put in place in April and covering about 13 million
people, has come under fire for placing a heavier financial burden on some
elderly people with low incomes.
Aso also emphasized the need to establish a consumer affairs agency by vowing
to prevent the recurrence of sales of tainted rice for edible purposes.