HIROSHIMA: Japan’s Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party President KISHIDA Fumio on Tuesday stopped short of saying whether he will run in the ruling party’s upcoming leadership election.

Asked whether he plans to join the race for re-election at a news conference in the city of Hiroshima, western Japan, Kishida said, “The coming (LDP) presidential election is very important,” adding, “An open leadership race is desirable.”

But he said: “I’m now working hard to produce results on issues that cannot be postponed, such as the economy and diplomacy. I’m not going to say anything more at this stage.”

For the election, expected to take place in September, some LDP members are calling for a sufficient campaign period and an open debate.

“We must deepen discussions to revamp the LDP,” Kishida said of the election. “Serious debates must be held on substantive policies addressing economic, diplomatic and social issues.”

On July 28, Japan and the United States held their first bilateral ministerial meeting on extended deterrence, including the supply of the U.S. nuclear umbrella. The meeting was held on the sidelines of so-called two-plus-two security talks among the two countries’ foreign and defense ministers.

“I don’t think so,” Kishida said, rebutting the criticism that extended deterrence goes against nuclear disarmament. “Such a relationship of trust will be a foundation for Japan and the United States to cooperate toward a world without nuclear weapons.”

On recent volatile movements of Japan’s key Nikkei 225 stock average, the prime minister stressed the importance of “calmly examining the situation.”

“We will continue carefully monitoring (stock market developments) with a sense of tension and steer economic and fiscal policies in close cooperation with the Bank of Japan,” he said.

“The Japanese economy is continuing its strong transition to a new stage,” he stated, referring to Tuesday’s government data showing 1.1 pct year-on-year growth in real wages in June, the first increase in 27 months, as well as recent robust corporate earnings and capital spending.

At a news conference in Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary HAYASHI Yoshimasa also welcomed the rebound in real wages. “A positive trend of pay increases is becoming clear.”

“We want to help people feel certain that wages are increasing,” by supporting efforts by small businesses to pass labor costs on to prices and boost productivity, the top government spokesperson said.

JIJI Press