What Mr. Abe Wants to Do

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gives his first policy speech at the Diet on Friday. Mr. Abe's policy is put into three points: (1) Amending the Constitution, (2) Improving the relations with China and South Korea, (3) Revising the Fundamental Law of Education.

Here's the excerpt:

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Sep. 30, 2006

....As reasons for his decision to review the right to collective self-defense, which the country currently has but cannot exercise under the government's interpretation of the Constitution, Abe pointed out changes in the international situation, such as the fight against terrorism and the world's expectation that Japan will make an international contribution. He said the government would study the matter "to make the Japan-U.S. alliance function more efficiently, so peace can be maintained." As the country's first prime minister born after World War II, Abe stressed his resolve to build a new nation and his hopes of passing at an early date a national referendum bill defining the procedures for constitutional amendment. "The present Constitution was established 60 years ago, when Japan was under occupation," Abe said. *

.....He also said he would improve soured relations with China and South Korea, saying the two countries are important neighbors, calling on all sides making efforts to have forward-looking, frank dialogues.

In addition to seeking a revision to the Fundamental Law of Education, Abe said he would establish a new council in the Cabinet to promote measures to overhaul the nation's education system, such as a requirement for teachers to renew their teaching licenses periodically to ensure standards are maintained, and evaluations of schools by third parties.

....On his policy to deal with the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korean agents, over which Abe's tough attitude drew national acclaim, the new prime minister hinted he would continue to press North Korea.
"Without a resolution of the abduction issue, there will be no normalization of diplomatic ties with North Korea," Abe said. He added he would demand Pyongyang return all the abductees home alive and would head a task force to tackle the abduction issue.

*Bold letters by the author of this blog

(1) Amending the Constitution

To excersize the right to collective self-defense and to maintain peace, Mr. Abe wants to revise the Constitution. As he says (pointed by bold letters), "the present Constitution was established when Japan was occupied by the Allies." While some pundits critisize it as the "MacArthur's Constitution", others disagree to the constitutional amendment. According to the cons, Mr. Abe wants to enable Japan to arm itself and to invade other countries. I think it's a ridiculous conjecture.

You may not know that arming itself is prohibited under the present Constitution. Thus now Japan cannot have the Self-Defence Forces. And it also cannot invade or attack other countries! Mr. Abe, in my conjecture, wants the existence of the Self-Defence Forces not to be interpreted currently by the government but to be admitted by amending the Constitution. And then he wants to put an end to the fruitless discussion on whether it is against the Constitution.

(2) Improving the relations with China and South Korea

He would like to improve the relations with China and South Korea to resolve the issue of the abduction by North Korean agents. He wants to continue to press North Korea to return all the abductees home alive.

(3) Revising the Fundamental Law of Education

To raise up talented people and thus to promote the innovation, he wants to change the nation's education system. This is the most eye-striking in his proposing policy. I don't know what he really wants to do by revising the Fundamental Law of Education and the detail on this issue, however.