Opposition Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima on Monday pressed Prime Minister Naoto Kan to uphold Japan's long-standing arms export ban or risk losing her party's cooperation on the fiscal 2011 budget.
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| Recap: Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima speaks to reporters after meeting with Prime Minister Naoto Kan at his official residence in Tokyo on Monday morning. KYODO PHOTO |
Fukushima told Kan during talks at the Prime Minister's Office that "We will have to distance ourselves from the administration" if the policy on the arms export ban is reviewed. This suggests the SDP would oppose the budget.
She said Kan told her he will take her comments to heart and discuss the issue with the SDP.
The meeting, initiated by Kan, was the first time the leaders of the SDP and the ruling Democratic Party of Japan have met since the SDP left the ruling coalition in May over the Futenma air base issue.
The DPJ is counting on the SDP's support for the budget amid mounting criticism of Kan's Cabinet and the administration's inability to handle diplomatic and other issues.
Fukushima told reporters that she urged Kan not to draw up a new national defense program outline that includes a review of the three principles, which make up the nation's virtual ban on arms exports.
The three principles were established in 1967 when the Cabinet, under then Prime Minister Eisaku Sato, prohibited weapons exports to communist states, nations involved in international conflicts and countries to which exports are banned under U.N. resolutions.
The two parties, meanwhile, agreed to work together on other matters such as those related to employment.
"There are policies which the SDP and we (DPJ) share and also policies with which we differ but we would like to discuss . . . and cooperate in managing the Diet and implementing policies," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku said at a morning news conference.
Fukushima also called on Kan to review the Japan-U.S. accord on the Futenma relocation in light of the victory of Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima in a recent gubernatorial election. Nakaima wants the base to be relocated outside the prefecture.
The SDP chief has also recently said her party will not return to the ruling coalition unless the accord is nullified.
Of all national lawmakers, former Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa reported the highest funds of ¥907.83 million for 2009.
This finding shows why his fund management body was able to fork out ¥449 million in assistance to candidates the kingmaker favored for the historic 2009 House of Representatives election.
Hidenao Nakagawa, former secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, came in second with ¥320.54 million after topping the rankings for the past two years.
The figures combine all funds raised by one's fund management body and all funds from his political party.
Of the top 20 people on the income list, 15 hail from the conservative LDP, the main opposition party.
Third place on the earners' list, however, was held by Kenko Matsuki of the DPJ, who collected ¥307.45 million.
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