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Japan's Fukuda braced for showdown

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda pledged yesterday to make Japan more active in fighting global warming and maintaining global security, but braced for a showdown in the fractured parliament's new session.

Fukuda, who a day earlier said his party was in its worst-ever crisis, is expected to face fierce resistance from the opposition, which has vowed to scuttle his agenda since winning one of the houses of parliament last year.

But opening a 150-day session of parliament, Fukuda promised Japan would work for the common interests of the world.

"It is indispensable to enhance our country's diplomatic power as the world faces global warming, poverty and other difficult tasks as well as security issues including fight against terrorism," Fukuda said.

He said Japan should turn itself into an environment-friendly "low-carbon society" that would set a precedent in the world.

Japan is home of the landmark Kyoto Protocol but is struggling to meet its own obligations. Fukuda's remarks come amid press reports that he will next week shift policy and embrace specific goals to cut carbon emissions.

He also said he would work for a new law allowing the Cabinet to dispatch troops at its discretion, avoiding the need to seek parliamentary approval for each mission.

But such a proposal is expected to face stiff resistance from the opposition, which unsuccessfully tried to stop Japan from taking part in the US-led "war on terror" in Afghanistan.

Parliament is reconvening days after the end of the last session, which was twice extended by the government as it struggled to pass the legislation to restart the naval mission providing fuel to coalition forces in Afghanistan.

The Prime Minister has told the LDP to be ready for a snap election sometime this year and warned on Thursday that the party "is facing the biggest crisis since its establishment."

Fukuda, a 71-year-old political veteran, took office in September after his embattled predecessor Shinzo Abe abruptly resigned.
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