Japan's new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba gives his first policy speech at the lower house of the parliament in Tokyo, Japan, Oct 4, 2024. [Photo/Agencies]
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Friday that Japan will comprehensively promote a strategic and mutually beneficial relationship with China while maintaining dialogue at all levels.
During his first policy address to the plenary session of both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors, Ishiba emphasized that Japan will firmly articulate its positions while simultaneously engaging in dialogue with relevant parties, including Chinese leaders, to cooperate on shared challenges and "build a constructive and stable relationship between Japan and China through mutual efforts".
"We will also advance the Japan-China-South Korea framework," he added.
Noriyuki Kawamura, emeritus professor at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, said after Ishiba assumes the role of prime minister, it is likely that he will adjust Japan's diplomatic and security policies pragmatically and cautiously to avoid further worsening relations with China.
Shigeaki Koga, a policy analyst and former official of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, expressed hope for improvement in the Japan-China relations compared to the current state.
"In my conversations with Ishiba, he emphasized that rejecting dialogue with China is not the right approach. Even if there are differences in opinion or feelings of like or dislike, it is crucial to set those emotions aside and engage in dialogue," Koga said.
However, he noted that Ishiba is not someone who will simply agree with everything China says. Instead, Ishiba will clearly articulate his own views, and how China's leaders respond will be pivotal.
In his speech, Ishiba also mentioned China's increasing presence in the East China Sea and South China Sea, as well as what he called "airspace violations".
Koga said, "If Japan and China can enhance their relations, Japan will be in a much safer and more secure position, so I hope this becomes a priority."
Yet economic front takes much of his speech and the Ishiba Cabinet will prioritize overcoming deflation. It will implement economic and fiscal policies grounded in the belief that the economy takes precedence, aiming to cultivate a growth-oriented environment driven by wage increases and investments, according to the prime minister.
To foster this growth-oriented economy, Japan's new administration plans to swiftly develop economic measures and take immediate action on urgent issues, such as supporting low-income households significantly impacted by rising prices and providing tailored responses to the unique needs of various regions.
"Structurally, we aim to build a society that is resilient to rising energy costs, while also tackling the effects of inflation through new regional revitalization initiatives, wage increases for small and medium-sized enterprises, and encouraging domestic investments that enhance growth potential," said Ishiba.
He highlighted that the government is committed to steadily working toward achieving a national average minimum wage of 1,500 yen ($10.25) in the 2020s, through appropriate pricing strategies and support for productivity enhancements.
To accomplish this, the government will focus on creating workplaces that allow individuals to freely choose their working styles. It will also strengthen investments in people by promoting reskilling and supporting businesses in establishing a digital environment, concentrating on policies that expand future economic opportunities, he added.
Emphasizing the vital role of regions in driving growth, Ishiba announced the government's plan to double the amount of grants for regional revitalization, intending to offer enhanced support for initiatives across the nation.
He also stressed that the new administration will enhance the budget and personnel of the current Cabinet Office's disaster management function and will initiate preparations to create a dedicated disaster management agency, headed by a full-time minister responsible for overseeing disaster prevention and national resilience efforts.
Addressing the issue of political funding reports, Ishiba said he will confront each lawmaker identified with the slush fund and tax evasion problem to ensure they reflect on their actions and adhere to the rules. Each politician must comply with the revised Political Funds Control Act with complete transparency, he added.
On the other hand, Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP, has begun preparations to officially endorse lawmakers who were penalized due to the political funds scandal in the upcoming House of Representatives election, as a general principle. While there is strong public opposition to endorsement, the party is prioritizing internal harmony, according to the Mainichi Shimbun, one of Japan's leading newspapers.
Kumiko Haba, professor emeritus at Aoyama Gakuin University, warned that if the LDP endorses the majority of lawmakers involved in the slush fund scandal, with only a few exceptions, no real change will occur. She called on the LDP to refuse to endorse those implicated in the scandal and to implement comprehensive reforms to meet the demands of the public.
Following the launch of the Ishiba Cabinet, a nationwide public opinion poll conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun and the Social Survey Research Center revealed that the cabinet's approval rating stands at 46 percent, while the disapproval rating is at 37 percent.
jiangxueqing@chinadaily.com.cn
