Japan poll rivals meet in TV debate

Japanese PM battles plunging opinion polls in face of opposition challenge.

japan pre-poll debate
The debate was organised by a private think-tank and televised across the country [GALLO/GETTY]

For his part Aso urged voters to stay the course with the LDP, promising stability and continuity while Hatoyama vowed an Obama-style message of “change”, pledging to end what he called the “business-as-usual” style of Japanese politics.

Campaign promises

Hatoyama has pledged to build a more caring society in the world’s second largest economy, promising to avoid tax hikes and to boost household incomes to stimulate the economy.

“They promise spending and programs that will cost money, but they do not explain how to pay for these things… This is irresponsible”

Taro Aso
Japanese PM

Speaking in Wednesday’s debate, the DPJ chief attacked Aso’s party for increasing debt and said that “anyone can run the government if governing means borrowing money and asking people to pay more taxes”.

Aso said the LDP would take steps to “expand the size of the economy first to realise a recovery. That’s the difference”.

“The DPJ’s set of policies doesn’t have a growth strategy,” he said.

“They promise spending and programs that will cost money, but they do not explain how to pay for these things… This is irresponsible.”

On the topic of national security and Japan’s international role, Aso criticised the DPJ for opposing legislation to enable Japan to inspect North Korean ships as part of UN sanctions against Pyongyang.

“It is the North Koreans who are most delighted at this move,” Aso said, implying that his opponent was soft on security issues.

Hatoyama denied that his party planned to block the move and said “we understand that we need to take a hard line against North Korea”.

Afghan mission

Aso also criticised Hatoyama for changing his stance on a naval mission supporting US-led operations in Afghanistan.

undefined
Taro Aso has been battling plunging ratings and a string of local election losses [GALLO/GETTY]

The DPJ leader has recently stepped back from a pledge to end the mission immediately, saying now that he would allow it to continue until January.

The DPJ, highlighting Japan’s pacifist constitution, has long argued that the country should not take part in “American wars” and should instead focus on humanitarian aid.

“I believe there are other ways that Japan can contribute to Afghanistan that Karzai will be grateful for,” Hatoyama said, referring to the Afghan president.

Aso’s LDP has lost four straight regional elections since April to the Democrats, raising pressure on a prime minister who has seen his popularity ratings plunge to record lows.

While polls indicate the LDP remains the underdog in the upcoming vote, analysts have cautioned that Japanese voters are traditionally risk-averse and the large proportion of who remain undecided suggests that both parties have yet to energise the campaign.

‘Graceful’ defeat

Aware of possible defeat, Aso was quoted earlier this week said that an electoral loss should be accepted gracefully.

Speaking on the campaign trail near Tokyo on Wednesday, he was reported by Japanese media to have recalled advice once given to his grandfather, Shigeru Yoshida, by Japan’s last wartime prime minister.

“One must lose gracefully – that’s what Kantaro Suzuki told Shigeru Yoshida,” Aso said.

Yoshida, who negotiated the peace treaty ending World War Two, is often referred to in Aso’s speeches.

According to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, Suzuki had advised Yoshida to face defeat like a carp on the chopping board.

“A carp, once it’s on the chopping board, doesn’t flinch even when the knife touches it,” the paper quoted from Yoshida’s memoir.

Source: News Agencies