KYODO NEWS



 

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Friday he will strive to build consensus across party lines as his minority government looks for opposition support to achieve policy goals after a dismal election outcome.

In his first policy speech in parliament since his ruling coalition lost its majority of the House of Representatives in a late October general election, Ishiba vowed to realize an opposition plan to raise the income threshold for tax payments.

He also pledged to make political funds more transparent after a slush funds scandal at his ruling party played a major part in the election defeat, vowing to achieve "politics for the people," not politicians.

In the speech, he touched first on diplomatic and security challenges, reflecting his emphasis on this area as the security environment facing Japan and beyond becomes increasingly severe.

Ishiba, a former defense chief, stressed the importance of a robust bilateral alliance with the United States and said he wants to hold "frank" discussions with President-elect Donald Trump.

He also expressed his resolve to tackle "various issues" related to the stationing of U.S. troops in Japan, which he said has brought "huge strategic benefits" to the United States, signaling his intention to review a bilateral status of forces agreement.

As a security ally, Japan hosts U.S. military installations and the bulk of them are located in Okinawa, close to both Taiwan and the Japanese-controlled, Chinese-claimed Senkaku Islands.

"It goes without saying that the United States has its own national interests and Japan has its own. That being the case, we should exchange views frankly and multiply the effects of advancing the interests of both nations," Ishiba said.

"In this way, I believe we can contribute to realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific," the Japanese leader added. A meeting between Ishiba and Trump has not yet been arranged.

The speech was delivered to explain his policy priorities in parliament as a 24-day extraordinary session began on Thursday, with the government seeking approval of a supplementary budget worth around 13.9 trillion yen ($92 billion) to fund an economic package.

The measures are intended to mitigate the pain felt by households amid a cost-of-living crisis, via cash handouts to low-income earners and subsidies to lower energy bills during the winter.

"I take the outcome of the recent election as a reprimand from the people of Japan over the issue of political funds and our stance on reforms," Ishiba said, referring to the lower house election defeat.

"Based on the coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito party, I will carefully listen to the views of other parties and build consensus as broadly as possible so we can humbly and sincerely make sure that the security and safety of the people are protected," he told fellow lawmakers.

The ruling coalition has been warming to the Democratic Party for the People after the small opposition party saw its influence surge following the election, with its leader promising to boost people's incomes by raising the income ceiling.

Without majority control of the 465-member powerful lower house, the ruling coalition must secure support from opposition parties to pass budgets and bills.

Cross-party discussions are under way to find common ground over the income ceiling issue, though local governments have raised concern about a potential drop in tax revenue if the threshold for tax payments to begin is lifted.

"We will raise the so-called 1.03 million yen threshold when we implement tax reforms" for the next fiscal year, Ishiba said, as he stressed the need for households to feel that pay hikes are outpacing inflation.

Meanwhile, the prime minister did not mention his long-held vision to create an Asian-version of NATO, as internal discussions are still ongoing within the LDP.

But he said Japan will "maintain and strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities" of the bilateral alliance with the United States and create "a security environment that is desirable for Japan through dialogue with other countries."

On China, Ishiba said he will "say what must be said over outstanding challenges but cooperate where possible," adding Tokyo will ensure communication with Beijing "at all levels" to build a mutually beneficial relationship.

He also touched on an agreement with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to advance bilateral relations to new heights via frequent talks ahead of the 60th anniversary of normalizing diplomatic ties next year.

In the speech that also covered regional revitalization and disaster prevention, Ishiba quoted former Japanese leader Tanzan Ishibashi to make his case that democracy is ensured when different political parties representing diverse public views sincerely engage in policy debate for the betterment of a nation and its people.

"There is no bigger push than that from the people, either in the fields of diplomacy or domestic politics. I will devote my heart and soul to winning the trust of the people," Ishiba said.

Ishibashi served as prime minister for about two months in the 1950s in postwar Japan and was known to be against military expansionism and took the view that the country's diplomacy should not be focused solely on the United States.