Khaldon Azhari

TOKYO: Japan’s Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio held his first New Year press conference on January 4, starting with heartfelt condolences to the victims of the 7.6 earthquake in Ishikawa prefecture on January 1.

Kishida stated that his government’s most vital tasks are disaster response and restoring public trust in politics.

He added his concern for the many evacuees and the possible long evacuation process, which will require a lengthy, sustained effort.

The Japanese prime minister also spoke of the importance of world issues – The Ukraine conflict, the Israel and Palestine situation, and elections in many countries, including the USA. He stated that world stability for Japan and its diplomacy in 2024 is extremely crucial.

Kishida said that his goal for Japan was a clear vision for the next ten years, to stabilize politics locally after the money scandals for which he apologized profusely to the people of Japan as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. He added that he will welcome initiatives to restore the people’s trust in politics, a term Kishida repeated many times in the press conference, and he pledged to reflect the people’s voice with political reforms and transparency to restore trust.

The prime minister spoke of working on a cost-cut economy and moving to an income, growth, and wage increase. He added that he will also activate a new road to governments with guidelines for income increases, tax cuts and support to enhance business income.

He continued by saying that measures to increase the birth rate are another priority this year, and the government will expand expenditure for child support and family life to sustain Japanese society.

The Japanese Prime Minister also said that diplomacy and cooperation with the US, Korea and Australia will increase. He added that dialogue with China for a constructive and stable relationship was crucial. He will boost attention on the global South and strengthen Japan’s defense capability and security measures.

Kishida added that his government would move the constitutional reform discussion and do its best to deliver tangible results.

He then updated the earthquake-damaged area in Ishikawa and other prefectures and said the government had established emergency management headquarters and was in full gear. They had dispatched 1400 Self Defense Forces and 400 police members, were clearing roads, and delivery of aid was on the way.

Prime Minister Kishida returned to the issue of the LDP and said he would study policies by young members but admitted that factions had been derailed and become groups seeking money, so revision of the Political Fund Act required deeper discussion and amendment to the law.

Kishida responded to a question on how to deal with the “hegemony of China” by saying that it was a challenge, but a stable and constructive relationship with China could be built and must be built by asking an international society to act responsibly and constructively.

Kishida sent a personal message to the people of Ishikawa Prefecture for working together with sustained and swift support to clear roads, deliver aid, and restore the infrastructure of Ishikawa so people could also return to a peaceful livelihood.

Kishida replied to a question on government action on the disinformation spread through social media by saying they were asking people to rely on information from public organizations only and that the government had asked digital platform companies for support.