Japan's new leader keeps core of Cabinet
Source: Agencies |
June 9, 2010, Wednesday
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JAPAN'S prime minister named his new Cabinet yesterday, keeping core members to tackle the country's deep economic and foreign policy issues but adding a fiery reform advocate and a deficit hawk to win back voters ahead of upcoming elections.
Naoto Kan also said he would honor an agreement with Washington to move a key US Marine base to a less crowded part of Okinawa - an issue that led to the downfall of his predecessor.
Japan's sixth prime minister in four years, Kan was officially sworn in late yesterday in a ceremony with Emperor Akihito.
His new administration has touted a new direction and fiscal reform to deal with Japan's huge public debt. It faces the challenge of wooing back voters angered by his predecessor's broken campaign promises and financial scandals.
The first test is to come in upper house elections next month.
Kan acknowledged the economic and social struggles that have plagued Japanese society since an investment bubble burst 20 years ago. He mentioned the country's 30,000 suicides per year and promised to "rebuild Japan from its foundation and turn it into a better country."
"I will achieve strong economy, strong finance and strong social security as a whole," he declared at a press conference after naming his Cabinet.
Ex-Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama - also from Kan's Democratic Party of Japan - stepped down last week after just eight months in office amid criticism for failing to keep a campaign promise to move US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma off Okinawa.
Kan said that while he would not break a pact with the US to keep the base on Okinawa, he also recognized the islanders' fierce opposition to the plan and said he would work to alleviate the burden on the island, which hosts more than half the 47,000 US troops in Japan under a security pact.
"We must proceed with the issue based on the agreement that we have reached," he said. "It is a very difficult issue that has caused the nation a lot of worry. But I will do my best to provide leadership."
He said that the base fracas does not reflect a shift away from Washington in Tokyo's diplomatic stance.
"For the past 60 years since World War II, the United States has been a cornerstone of Japanese foreign policy, and it must remain essential," he said.
To smooth things over, Kan said he hopes to meet with President Barack Obama during a summit of the G8 industrialized nations later this month in Canada.
Naoto Kan also said he would honor an agreement with Washington to move a key US Marine base to a less crowded part of Okinawa - an issue that led to the downfall of his predecessor.
Japan's sixth prime minister in four years, Kan was officially sworn in late yesterday in a ceremony with Emperor Akihito.
His new administration has touted a new direction and fiscal reform to deal with Japan's huge public debt. It faces the challenge of wooing back voters angered by his predecessor's broken campaign promises and financial scandals.
The first test is to come in upper house elections next month.
Kan acknowledged the economic and social struggles that have plagued Japanese society since an investment bubble burst 20 years ago. He mentioned the country's 30,000 suicides per year and promised to "rebuild Japan from its foundation and turn it into a better country."
"I will achieve strong economy, strong finance and strong social security as a whole," he declared at a press conference after naming his Cabinet.
Ex-Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama - also from Kan's Democratic Party of Japan - stepped down last week after just eight months in office amid criticism for failing to keep a campaign promise to move US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma off Okinawa.
Kan said that while he would not break a pact with the US to keep the base on Okinawa, he also recognized the islanders' fierce opposition to the plan and said he would work to alleviate the burden on the island, which hosts more than half the 47,000 US troops in Japan under a security pact.
"We must proceed with the issue based on the agreement that we have reached," he said. "It is a very difficult issue that has caused the nation a lot of worry. But I will do my best to provide leadership."
He said that the base fracas does not reflect a shift away from Washington in Tokyo's diplomatic stance.
"For the past 60 years since World War II, the United States has been a cornerstone of Japanese foreign policy, and it must remain essential," he said.
To smooth things over, Kan said he hopes to meet with President Barack Obama during a summit of the G8 industrialized nations later this month in Canada.
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