Abe seeks concrete proposals on Constitutional amendment

January 22, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on ruling and opposition parties on Monday to submit concrete proposals on constitutional amendment in order to promote discussions on the issue at the Diet, the country's parliament.

"It is the constitution that speaks about the shape of a country and its ideal image," Abe said in a policy speech at plenary meetings of both chambers of the Diet on the opening day of this year's ordinary parliamentary session.

The prime minister called for redesigning the shape of his country with a vision of the future 50 to 100 years from now.

"I want each political party to present specific proposals on constitutional revisions to the Diet for deepening discussions at both chambers' commissions on the constitution and achieving progress in the discussions," he stressed.

Noting that North Korea poses a "grave and imminent threat," Abe said, "Japan will firmly employ diplomacy without bowing to any provocative action, in order to make North Korea change its policy."

Abe said Japan will boost its defense capabilities by introducing the U.S.-developed Aegis Ashore land-based missile defense system and acquiring long-range cruise missiles.

Referring to the planned review of Japan's defense program guidelines later this year, the prime minister said his government will determine defense capabilities that are truly necessary to the country, instead of simply extending what the existing guidelines say.

Abe expressed eagerness to elevate Japan's bilateral relationship with China to a new level. To achieve this, Japan aims to hold a trilateral summit among Japan, China and South Korea at an early date and realize Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Japan, Abe said.

On the relationship with South Korea, Abe said Tokyo plans to promote a future-oriented cooperative relation based on agreements that have been reached between the two neighboring countries so far.

The prime minister apparently referred to the 2015 bilateral agreement to resolve the issue of Korean comfort women forced into prostitution for Japanese troops before and during World War II.

Earlier this month, South Korean President Moon Jae-in criticized the agreement and called on Japan to make a heartfelt apology to former comfort women.

Also in the speech, Abe said his government will launch what it claims to be the country's first drastic work style reform in 70 years.

He vowed to realize equal pay for equal work, introduce tighter restrictions on overtime and exclude highly skilled professionals from work-hour regulations.

On the human resources development "revolution," another key policy item, Abe said the government is set to utilize additional revenue seen resulting from the planned consumption tax hike to 10 pct in October 2019 to allocate more funds to younger generations as part of social security system reforms.

The government will submit legislation to set details of so-called integrated resorts including casinos that will be launched in the country, he said. Jiji Press