Kihara Says No Need to Revise LDP-JIP Accord

Tokyo, Sept. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its partner, the Japan Innovation Party, have no need to revise their coalition agreement reached in October last year, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Thursday. Noting that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s term as LDP president was two years when the agreement was signed, Kihara said, “We set out in the agreement what needed to be done over the two years.” “There is still time left in that period, so there is no need to revise it,” Kihara, a senior LDP member, said in a speech at a meeting of the Research Institute of Japan, a Jiji Press affiliate, in Tokyo. The LDP-JIP agreement was reached when Takaichi took office as prime minister. The JIP has called for the agreement to be updated as some measures have already been implemented, including easing restrictions on Japan’s exports of defense equipment and technology, and establishing a legal framework for a secondary capital. Kihara expressed confidence that parliament would pass bills to cut the consumption tax on food during an extraordinary session expected to be convened as soon as early October. “The ruling parties are in the minority in the Senate, but many opposition lawmakers are willing to support the bills,” he said, referring to parliament’s upper chamber formerly called the House of Councillors. “If we explain them thoroughly, they can pass.” He said that the Takaichi administration aims to achieve a virtuous economic cycle in which “tax revenue will naturally increase without raising tax rates, leading to an expansion of gross domestic product.” Kihara also described the planned establishment of a National Intelligence Bureau as “the first step in intelligence reform.” Referring to foreign intelligence agencies such as the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, commonly known as MI6, he said: “Japan does not have such an agency. I believe we need one.” “Some people call Japan a ‘spy haven,'” Kihara said. “The country is regarded as being so lax toward illicit intelligence activities by foreign actors, and the situation cannot be overlooked.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]