SDP tells Kan to keep arms export ban or risk losing budget cooperation

Monday 06th December, 03:17 PM JST

TOKYO —

Opposition Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima pressed Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Monday to uphold Japan’s longstanding arms export ban policy or likely risk losing the party’s cooperation on the fiscal 2011 budget.

Fukushima told Kan during their talks at the premier’s office that if the policy is reviewed, ‘‘We will have to distance ourselves from the administration,’’ suggesting that the SDP will oppose the budget.

She said Kan told her he will take to heart what she has said and discuss the matter with the SDP.

The meeting was initiated by Kan and it was the first time for the leaders of the SDP and the ruling Democratic Party of Japan to meet since the SDP left the ruling coalition in May over a row about the relocation of a key U.S. Marine base in Okinawa Prefecture.

The DPJ and the government are counting on the support of the SDP over the budget amid falling public support for Kan’s cabinet and mounting criticisms of the administration’s inability to handle various diplomatic and domestic 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 Prime Minister Eisaku Sato prohibited weapons exports to communist states, nations involved in international conflicts and countries to which exports are banned under a U.N. resolution.

The DPJ and SDP meanwhile agreed to work together on other matters such as those related to employment.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku said at a morning news conference, ‘‘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.’‘

The SDP broke off from the coalition with the DPJ in May over its opposition to relocating the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station within Okinawa Prefecture.

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 gubernatorial election, who 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.