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| Prime Minister Shinzo Abe |
By Clint Richards
Public concern shows Abe changing tone before passing new legislation this fall.
While Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has shown himself to be one of the most hawkish leaders of postwar Japan, sources within his government indicate that he plans on taking a very pragmatic approach to further implementing his policies, particularly on collective self-defense. Those sources stress that Abe intends to show that the economy is his primary concern, upon which all his other polices rest. However, other reports suggest that the government is proceeding with unchecked momentum, now that the Cabinet has officially changed its interpretation of collective self-defense, toward both increasing Japan’s military budget and strengthening its alliance with the U.S.
Sources within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party who spoke with Reuters indicate that Abe is well aware of the impact his government’s change to collective self-defense has had on his popularity, which dipped below 50 percent shortly after his Cabinet approved the change and has only recently recovered. His aides are reportedly attempting to redirect public attention toward Abe’s economic policies, which had proven to be largely successful until the impact of the recent consumption tax increase drastically reduced second quarter growth. According to a senior member of the coalition government, “Mr Abe himself understands well what he must do as prime minister – and that is not simply to forge ahead with his own agenda.”
However, the defense ministry is reportedly requesting another major increase in its budget, over and above the last fiscal year’s increase, which was one of the few portfolios to not see a reduction amid government-wide belt tightening. The request is for a record 5.05 trillion yen ($48.5 billion), which the ministry claims will mainly be directed toward the defense of remote islands and a new marine fighting force. The budget is 3.5 percent greater than the previous year’s, the majority of which will be spent on materiel and training directed at asserting Japan’s claims to disputed islands, particularly those with China such as the Senkaku/Diaoyus.
Read the full story at The Diplomat