JAPAN:Stalemate remains despite new vote on Afghan mission
Updated
Japan's lower house of parliament has approved legislation to restart a mission supporting US coalition forces in Afghanistan. An extension of the bill which expired two weeks ago, had been rejected by the Opposition dominated Upper House. The scene is now set for another confrontation when its sent back for a second time.
Presenter: Karon Snowdon
Speakers: Professor of Politics at Hokkaido University, Jiro Yamaguchi
KARON SNOWDON: Japan's maritime self defence force has been providing refuelling and other support for US lead forces in the Indian Ocean since 2001. The government was keen to continue its international role and needed to extend the special legislation after it expired on November the 1st. The Opposition Democratic Party, the DPJ, had a different idea and for the first time since the 1950's it had a majority in the upper house to enforce it. It had won control in July's elections and refused to pass the bill to extend the navy's role. Now, the government is pushing the issue and has succeeded in passing the bill in the lower house, where the ruling Liberal Democratic Party dominates. Lecturer in Politics at Hokkaido University, Jiro Yamaguchi says the opposition still isn't showing signs of approving it.
YAMAGUCHI: It is very likely that the upper house will reject the government's proposal.
KARON SNOWDON: It is possible under the constitution for the government to override an upper house rejection of its legislation. It needs a two thirds majority vote in the lower house to do it. But it's difficult and can't be considered a foregone conclusion says Professor Yamaguchi.
YAMAGUCHI: There's another scenario that the program will go into a kind of stalemate so no decision is made.
KARON SNOWDON: The opposition has been using the issue as a means of pushing for an early election, to exploit its good showing in recent polls. It's calling for Japan not to be involved in what it calls America's war. Politics Professor Jiro Yamaguchi says it started a debate on the controversy of how Japan should be involved internationally.
YAMAGUCHI: I think the self defence forces operation in the Indian Ocean is rather symbolic one. But for us in Japan, we should take closer look at how the fuel is used provided by the self defence forces. In Japan we have a so-called peace constitution and Japan should refrain from participation of military activities outside Japan. So in domestic politics it is very good opportunity to have a wide debate or discussion about measures that Japan can take for the co-operative activities in international society.
KARON SNOWDON: The issue goes beyond questions of how Japan should deal with its role in the twenty-first century. On the domestic front, the appearance of a stronger opposition to challenge the stranglehold by the LDP, which has ruled Japan almost continuously for five decades, faded last week. Its position was weakened when the DPJ's leader Ichiro Ozawa responded to overtures from the Prime Minister Yasua Fukudo to form a grand coalition. Mr. Ozawa offered his resignation to his outraged party and then withdrew it. But Professor Yamaguchi remains optimistic the political tide in Japan has turned.
YAMAGUCHI : Yes, Mr. Ozawa's credibility is seriously damaged. The story of a grand coalition is kind of a trap by the LDP or the government. And the people still expect that the DPJ the opposition party, should pursue its own agenda and Japanese politics is in a stalemate right now. But at the same time, I think this process should be tolerated as a post to establish a viable two party system in Japan.
KARON SNOWDON: Prime Minister Fokuda is to visit the United States later this week, his first foreign trip since taking office in September. He can take with him perhaps two views of the lower house vote. Either it provides at least a partial face-saving measure or further embarrassment when he meets his US counterpart in Washington.
