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JAPAN-POLITICS
Abe launches bid for party leader vaunting economy, constitution
TOKYO, Sept 10, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Japan’s Shinzo Abe Monday defended his
economic record and pledged a controversial reform of the country’s post-war
constitution, as he launched his campaign for another term as head of his
ruling LDP party.
Abe is seen comfortably winning the September 20 vote against his sole
challenger — former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba, which would put him on
track to become Japan’s longest-serving premier.
A victory would effectively keep the hawkish Abe in power for another
three-year term at the helm of the world’s third-largest economy, with no
real political party opposition to speak of.
“It’s time to tackle constitutional reform,” vowed Abe, adding that he
aims to submit a reform bill to parliament later this year.
Article nine of Japan’s constitution, forged in the aftermath of World War
Two, forces the pacifist country to “forever renounce war” and stipulates
that armed forces will “never be maintained”.
This creates a headache for Japan’s Self-Defence Forces (SDF), a well-
equipped military stuck in a constitutional grey zone.
With regional tensions still high, allies have urged Japan to bolster the
SDF’s role but former foes in Beijing, Seoul and Pyongyang would likely react
furiously.
Abe also vaunted the record of his “Abenomics” policy, which combines
ultra-loose monetary policy with fiscal stimulus in a bid to pep up the
former Asian economic powerhouse.
“The ratio of job offers to seekers is at a record high… we were able to
regain a decent economy,” said Abe.
With two massive international sporting events coming up — the Rugby
World Cup in 2019 and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics — Abe said his policy of
boosting tourism is also “working as an detonator” to boost local economies.
On the diplomatic front, Abe reiterated he was “determined to meet face-
to-face” with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un to resolve the issue of
kidnapping of Japanese citizens in the Cold War period by Pyongyang agents.
His rival Ishiba has identified demographic concerns and the regional
security threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as the two biggest challenges
facing Japan.
“What I want to do is revitalise the economy and the core of this task is
to revitalise the countryside,” Ishiba said Monday.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1052 hrs