Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso gave his first policy speech to parliament yesterday, stressing the country’s responsibility to help fight the global war on terror and to fuel recovery in the domestic economy.
Aso, who took office last Wednesday, said it was “not an option” for the country’s military, known as the Self-Defense Forces, to end activities abroad in support of the US-led coalition in Afghanistan, a stance that Japan’s opposition has questioned.
In January, the government passed a bill to continue a naval mission in which Japanese ships refuel vessels on anti-terror patrols in Afghanistan, but that bans direct help by Japanese forces in the region.
Aso emphasized Tokyo must deepen the Japan-US partnership and build on that to foster stability in Asia with close neighbors such as China, South Korea and Russia.
Aso said he would seek to resolve outstanding issues with North Korea, including concerns over that country’s missile tests and nuclear weapons program, as well as resolving the longstanding issue of the kidnapping of Japanese citizens decades ago.
On the economy, Aso said it was crucial to build business confidence and implement government policies that led to economic growth. He said it was important to address the country’s bloated bureaucracy and create a more efficient government.
Aso is under pressure to quickly win over the general public.
He took office last week after soundly defeating all challengers in a party vote held by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, in part because he was seen as the most popular choice among the general public. But a number of polls taken in the days after he became Japan’s leader show his public support to be below 50 percent.
PATROL PARTNERS: The ‘Chiayi’ and the ‘Penghu’ departed for a two-day joint patrol of Palau’s exclusive economic zone, the CGA’s second diplomatic visit to the country The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) set a record for its southernmost deployment of a coast guard vessel as the vessels Chiayi and the Penghu reached Palau’s Pulo Anna Island on Saturday in a cooperative exercise between the two countries. The island, about 217 nautical miles (401km) southwest of Koror in the Palauan state of Sonsorol and 1,220 nautical miles from Taiwan’s southernmost point, Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), is the furthest south a CGA vessel has sailed. The two vessels are in Palau for the coast guard’s second diplomatic visit to the country. They docked at Malakal Harbor on Tuesday last week. The coast guard
The government is monitoring online rumors that a pneumonic plague outbreak has spread from Russia into China, and it might enhance quarantine measures, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday. During a legislative meeting, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) said that rumors had circulated that the disease had spread across several Chinese provinces. He asked Cho whether the government was prepared to prevent the disease spreading to Taiwan, given the volume of traffic between the two sides, and how concerned the government was about the alleged outbreak. The Ministry of Health and Welfare had implemented border quarantine measures after briefing the Executive
BATCH 1: The military has plans to assign the weapons to the army to defend Taiwan proper, as well as outlying islands and the navy for the Marine Corps, the official said Taiwan is to receive 500 Stinger missiles and 178 launchers from the US by the end of the year, the first batch under a planned two-stage acquisition totaling 2,621 missiles and 763 launchers, a defense official said yesterday on condition of anonymity. The portable missiles would play a vital role in the nation’s air defense capabilities, the source said. The army plans to deploy 2,235 missiles and 657 launchers to defend Taiwan proper and outlying islands, they said, citing military documents. The navy is allotted 295 missiles and 85 launchers to arm the Marine Corps and some surface vessels that lack air defense
The European Parliament on Wednesday adopted a recommendation on EU-China political relations that rejected China’s efforts to restrict Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and exchanges. The recommendation, addressed to the European Council, the European Commission and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, includes several references to EU-Taiwan relations and expresses support for closer ties, saying they would bring positive benefits and have strategic importance. Describing Taiwan as a valuable partner in trade and technology, the European Parliament said it “rejects China’s attempts to coerce international organizations, third countries and other actors into restricting Taiwan’s international participation and
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