Posted on 09/02/2006 8:32:38 AM PDT by snowsislander
TOKYO - Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, now widely believed to be a shoo-in to succeed Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in September, has made it clear, if ever there was any doubt, that he will pursue an ultra-conservative, nationalistic and pro-US political and foreign-policy agenda.
Abe's policy goals as the new prime minister will include, among other things, giving Japan a greater military role abroad through such means as promulgating a new constitution to replace the post-World War II pacifist constitution, strengthening a security alliance with the United States, and forging a thinly veiled alliance of Asia-Pacific democracies to counter China.
These goals, coupled with Abe's nationalist views on history, hawkish stance on such countries as China and firm support for the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo seen as glorifying Japan's militaristic past, will stoke concerns among Asian neighbors, especially China and South Korea. This prospect augurs ill for Tokyo's relations with Beijing and Seoul, which remain strained by territorial rows, disputes over natural resources, and differences over World War II history.
Koizumi steps down in September when his current three-year term as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party - and hence as premier - expires. The LDP presidential election is slated for September 20. In a long-awaited move, Koizumi's protege, Abe, is formally to throw his hat into the ring in the LDP presidential race and unveil his campaign manifesto on Friday. Abe has important rivals, but his election is considered assured.
One of Abe's first moves as premier will be to push ahead with promulgation of a new constitution to replace the one written during the postwar US occupation. ''It has been 61 years since the end of World War II. We must, with our own hands, create a new constitution. ...
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(Excerpt) Read more at atimes.com ...
Prime Minister Koizumi has done well indeed, and I have high hopes that Mr. Abe will also.
I think I like this guy, and Japan for electing him.
It's a challenging position at any time, and these are particularly challenging times. The position will test Mr. Abe's mettle, and I hope that he succeeds. Certainly his program looks excellent.
Japan * ping * (kono risuto ni hairitai ka detai wo shirasete kudasai : let me know if you want on or off this list)
Amongst Republicans ?
Bwahahahahaha! Good one!
Lessee...We've got Wimp Frist, Somnambulant Lugar, ADMGrassley (who's now channeling Paul Wellstone)...it just gets better and better.
Hey, hey, ho, ho
Article 9 has got to go!
Hey, hey, ho, ho
Article 9 has got to go!
Kore wa pingu desu !!
"....giving Japan a greater military role abroad..."
I seem to recall them trying that a while ago....
Yes, I think that rescinding Article 9 would be the better choice although I would be unsurprised if it is just revised.
How come "(pushing) ahead with promulgation of a *new* constitution" is "conservative?"
Yes, I think this is one area where saying that advocating promulgation of such a new constitution is more accurately labeled "rightward" rather than "conservative", which, as you point out, is usually taken as tending more toward preservation rather than opting for change. (Though Burke's formulation was a bit more nuanced: "a disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve".)
I think that this is an instance of the tendency to use "conservative" as synonymous with "right-leaning", and "liberal" with "left-leaning". It sometimes is not the clearest way to label actions and thoughts, although I think such usages are usually adequate.
I think Koizumi is maybe only the 2nd Japanese PM I'll be sorry to see go, though. He was a good guy.
It's a little confusing....does Abe really want an entirely new constitution, or does he just want to get rid of Article 9 and replace it with something else? Reading thru the article makes it seem he just wants to make revisions to that section, as opposed to changing everything. Either way, it's time for Japan to be able to defend themselves and participate in international missions. And countries need to stop complaining about visits to the shrine...it is understandable for a country's leaders to want to honor their countrymen who have fallen in past wars. Too much is read into the visits.
" I think I like this guy, and Japan for electing him. "
JAPAN doesn't elect the Prime Minister ; he is designated by both house of the Diet , which have always been heavily controlled by the LDP , of which he is a member .
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