|
On June 16, DPJ President Banri Kaieda held his regular press conference at party headquarters, and reported on (1) issues regarding the new “three conditions” for collective self-defence, (2) the background behind the decision to hold meetings with the leaders of the other opposition parties, and (3) the issue of erroneous remarks made by Minister of Finance Aso in the Committee on Audit and Oversight of Administration.
With regard to the new “three conditions” for exercising the right of collective self-defence proposed by LDP Vice-President Masahiko Komura, Kaieda stressed, “These new three conditions are based on the philosophy of the 1972 government view, but it really should be unnecessary for me to repeat at such a late date as this that if you take the 1972 document at face value it is clear that its reasoning leads one to the conclusion that the right to collective self-defence cannot be exercised. It is basically impossible to use this document to show that it is possible to exercise the right to collective self-defence, as is occurring on this occasion. We have no intention of allowing the administration to shift the goalposts of the debate in this way.” Kaieda also commented on explanations made by Prime Minister Abe and LDP Secretary General Ishiba to the effect that these new three conditions would enable the SDF to carry out mine sweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz, saying, “[These conditions] are being employed on the grounds that there is a risk there will be a serious impact on the lives of the Japanese people, but I think that this is rather unreasonable.”
Regarding meetings with leaders of the other opposition parties, Kaieda explained that following his meeting with the Secretary General of the Hashimoto group within the Japan Restoration Party, Yorihisa Matsuno, on June 12, he planned to meet with a representative of the Ishihara group from the same party on June 17. He stated, “I don’t know yet what kind of discussion we will have, but it will focus on the fact that we should show opposition to the LDP, and the basic principle that as the largest opposition party, we should thoroughly demonstrate our opposition to the LDP.”
On June 16, in the Committee on Audit and Oversight of Administration in the House of Representatives, DPJ Diet member Yuichiro Tamaki had posed questions regarding improper use of subsidies and collusive bidding practices initiated by bureaucrats at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Minister of Finance Aso replied by evading responsibility for this, stating that the 2013 budget had been determined at the time when the DPJ was in power. Kaieda pointed out that the Abe administration had revised the 2013 budget requests which had been pursued by the DPJ administration and the Abe cabinet had approved these revisions on January 29 2013, saying “This is clearly a mistake”, and “an unfounded allegation made against the DPJ”. Aso had corrected his statement following the end of the interpellatory session with Tamaki, but Kaieda stated, “Deputy Prime Minister Aso’s remark was mistaken and thus I would like him to issue a proper apology to the DPJ.”
|
