Abe launches campaign to become Japan's leader - Would revise the pacifist constitution imposed by the US

Abe launches campaign to become Japan's leader - Would revise the pacifist constitution imposed by the US
By David Pilling in Tokyo
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2006
Published: September 2 2006 03:00 | Last updated: September 2 2006 03:00


Shinzo Abe, the man almost certain to become Japan's next prime minister later this month, yesterday formally launched his candidacy, saying he would help build and preserve a "beautiful country".

Mr Abe, a conservative, is one of three candidates to have declared for the presidency of the Liberal Democratic party, which comes up on September 20 when Junichiro Koizumi steps down after more than five years in office.

He will run against Taro Aso, the foreign minister and a fellow conservative, and Sadakazu Tanigaki, the finance minister, a fiscal hawk who has a more conciliatory approach to foreign relations, particularly with China.

Mr Abe has overwhelming support within the LDP and his likely selection as party president should be easily ratified in parliament, making him prime minister. He is expected to name a new cabinet as early as September 22. Mr Koizumi is widely believed to have picked him as his successor, giving him a number of prominent posts.

Mr Abe, now chief cabinet secretary, said the success of the economic reforms of the past five years gave Japan a chance to construct a strong country capable of taking a leadership role in international affairs and winning respect.

Standing beneath a sign saying "Beautiful Country", taken from the title of his recent book-cum-manifesto, he emphasised reviving Japan's national pride. "Japan has beautiful nature, culture and a long history. We should take pride in that," he said in a speech at a political rally in Hiroshima broadcast live on NHK television.

He promised to develop Japan's role in peace-keeping operations of the sort that took 550 ground forces to Iraq, and to put revision of Japan's pacifist constitution on the political agenda.

He would also take measures to strengthen the US-Japan security alliance. "The Japan-US alliance is the foundation of Japan's diplomacy and national security. We need to make efforts to further increase the relationship of trust and reciprocity."

Aides say he plans to scrap Japan's self-imposed ban on participating in mutual defence, clearing the way for it to help the US or other allies if they come under attack.

He said Japan should build strong links with like-minded democracies in the region. Improving relations with China required mutual effort, he said.

Japan should open its eco-nomy more and build competitive industries based on innovation and world-class education, he said. Mr Abe plans to overhaul the nation-al education curriculum, im-prove standards and correct what he regards as a self-flagellating view of history.

He would also conduct root-and-branch reform of the social security system, which he said was hard to understand and inadequate for a fast-ageing society. Only through repairing Japan's damaged finances could the economy grow sustainably, he said.

Although he is expected to stick to Mr Koizumi's broadly liberal economic agenda, he said it was important to maintain a safety net and to help some of the struggling regions, including their farmers.