Kishida: ‘ Trust, empathy’ to shape policy in Japan
TOKYO – In his first policy speech, new Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida promised Friday to strengthen the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic in case of another resurgence and revive its battered economy while bolstering defenses against threats from China and North Korea.
Kishida also spoke on Friday by telephone with Chinese President Xi Jinping and raised concerns about China’s escalating activities in disputed maritime territories and human rights problems in Hong Kong and the Xinjiang region, he said.
Tasked with the crucial mission of rallying public support for the governing party before national elections expected Oct. 31, Kishida promised to pursue politics of “trust and empathy.”
He was elected by parliament and sworn in Monday as Japan’s 100th prime minister, succeeding Yoshihide Suga, who left after only a year in office. Suga’s perceived high-handed approach in dealing with the coronavirus and insistence on holding the Tokyo Olympics despite rising cases angered the public and hurt the governing Liberal Democrats.
“I will devote my body and soul to overcome the national crisis together with the people to pioneer a new era so we can pass a bountiful Japan to the next generation,” Kishida said.
He promised to be more attentive to public concerns and needs, and prepare virus measures based on “a worstcase scenario.” That includes taking advantage of a drop in infections to improve crisis management before the weather turns cold, approving drugs for treatment of COVID-19 by the end of December and the digitalization of vaccine certificates as Japan gradually expands social and economic activities, Kishida said.
A former moderate who recently turned hawk on security issues, he said Japan should increase its preparedness for growing regional threats. He said the security environment has become more severe and he will revise Japan’s national security and defense strategy to bolster its missile defense capabilities and naval defense.
“I’m determined to defend our land, territorial seas and air space, and the people’s lives and assets, no matter what,” Kishida said.
The Japan-U.S. alliance remains the “lynchpin” of Japanese diplomatic and security policies, he said, vowing to further elevate the partnership, which “also serves as the foundation of peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and the entire world.”
Kishida said establishing a stable relationship with China is important not only for the two countries but also for the region and the international community. Still, Japan will “say what needs to be said” about China’s assertive activities in the region, while cooperating with other like-minded democracies, he said.
China has become bolder in pursuing its territorial claims in the South China Sea, where it constructed several islands and turned them into military installations, and near the Japanesecontrolled East China Sea island of Senkaku, which China also claims. Beijing also has increased military activities around self-ruled Taiwan, which it claims as part of its territory.
Kishida said after his talk with Xi later Friday that he raised China’s increased activity around Senkaku and human rights problems in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, and proposed a dialogue on resolving the issues.
He and Xi agreed to promote economic and people’s exchanges, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said.
In a separate phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, the leaders agreed to strengthen defense cooperation and promote a vision of a “free and open Indo Pacific” with other democracies as a counterbalance to China. Kishida held talks with U.S. and Australian leaders earlier this week.