Policy Speech by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama to the 134th Session of the Diet
September 29, 199.
(Unofficial translation)
At the opening of this 134th Session of the Diet and the first Diet Session since the 50th anniversary of the war's end, I would like to state my views on the main policy issues before us.
(Introduction)
In the one year and three months since taking office last June, my government has worked to effect political reform, tax reform, decentralization, and other reforms that had been pending for many years since the war. In addition, I issued a Statement this August 15 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the war's end elucidating for Japan and all the world to hear our intention to pursue a foreign policy grounded upon an awareness of history and a dedication to world peace. At the same time, I am confident that we have been able to reach an accommodation on the issues of hibakusha relief, the so called "comfort women," and other issues arisen from the war. Yet despite the major shift that has taken place in the international political and economic status that prevailed for so long after the war's end, the fact remains that Japan is still strongly influenced by the political, administrative, and socio-economic structures formed during the era of postwar recovery and growth. Of course, there are many distinctively Japanese systemic arrangements and practices that should be preserved and passed on to future generations, and it is today imperative that we engage in serious debate over what it was that sustained Japan's postwar development, which of these elements constitute impediments to future development, and which are crucial to Japanese and global development in the years and decades ahead and that we undertake radical reforms for the future. Building upon the relationships of trust that have been forged among the three government parties, I will work with this new team and am determined to do my utmost to deal successfully with the domestic and international issues as outlined herein.
(Economic Policies)
Our most urgent imperative today is that of devising and implementing effective economic policies. In addition to the damage inflicted by the bubble's collapse, the Japanese economy has been in a holding pattern for quite some time due to the earthquake, the yen's appreciation, and other factors since the start of the year, and the overall situation remains grim. Seeking to rectify this situation, the government has embarked upon a seamless stream of stimulative policies since early this year, including Emergency Measures for Yen Appreciation and the Economy and measures for implementing and supplementing them as well as measures to promote overseas investments and loans aimed at correcting the yen's appreciation. While there have been some hopeful signs in the foreign exchange and stock markets, we recently announced a new package of economic measures on September 20 in the belief that now is the time for appropriate and effective measures so as to seize the moment and to put the economic recovery on an even-sounder footing. This package of economic measures is a three-pronged effort including (I) the largest-ever impetus to domestic demand with priority attention to such areas as enhancing the quality of Japanese life and promoting the creation of new industries, (ii) policies to overcome the imminent problems as quickly as possible such as by promoting more efficient land use, revitalizing the securities markets, and assisting employment and small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), and (iii) policies to advance further structural reform of the economy. The package focuses not only on furthering such hardware aspects as public investment but also on enhancing such software aspects as research and information technologies. At the same time, we are taking a comprehensive and vigorous look at taxes on land in line with recent economic conditions and the idea of the Basic Land Law and hope to have a conclusion in time for the revision of the tax system in FYl996. Likewise, this package not only includes efforts to promote reconstruction-related projects after the Hanshin-Awaji Great Earthquake but also includes an effort to promote agriculture, including improving the agricultural infrastructure for higher-productivity agriculture in line with the need for independent development by Japanese farming and farm villages and based upon the Outline of Measures Related to the Uruguay Round Agriculture Agreement.
Likewise seeking to ensure the integrity of that financial system which may be called the lifeblood of the economy, we will continue to respond determinedly to facilitate the prompt resolution of the problems posed by the financial institutions' non-performing loans. The Financial System Research Council has recently completed drafting its interim report and every effort is being made to draw up effective policies by the end of the year for enhancing investor insurance and responsive to such issues as the troubles besetting the housing loan companies.
Determined to do everything possible to escape this economic maelstrom that menaces the people's livelihoods and threatens to undermine the foundations for economic and industrial activity by the SMEs and others, this "economic recovery Cabinet" is closely monitoring exchange rates and other economic indicators in Japan and overseas and is making the utmost effort for responsive and flexible economic management. I sincerely hope that this Session of the Diet will promptly enact the Second Supplemental Budget Bill, the bills relating to the economic policy package's implementation, and other legislation underlying this effort.
As was clearly demonstrated in the recent economic policy package, this "reform government" is working on economic structural reform, administrative and fiscal reform, and more consistent with the continuing urgent imperative for reform from the medium- to long-term perspective to create socio-economic structures that befit the 21st century, that are free and infused with energy and creativity, and that are in harmony with the international economy in this emerging new era in which all countries and all regions of the world engage in fierce cross-border competition.
(Promoting Deregulation)
The first thing to do here is to ease those restrictions and to rectify those business practices that crimp social and economic vigor. It is imperative that we enhance free economic mechanisms in which market principles work more effectively by moving ahead resolutely with deregulation focusing on the priority areas of land and housing, information and telecommunications, distribution and transport, and finance and securities and by correcting opaque private-sector business practices. In so promoting deregulation and other reforms, however, it is important that there be thorough discussion on the pursuit of free competition and entailing individual self-responsibility. Building upon the lively deliberations in the Administrative Reform Committee, I am determined to respect their views to the fullest and to enhance the Deregulation Action Program by the end of this fiscal year. Of course, easing and abolishing specific regulations requires the determination of the government agencies involved and their efforts for systemic reform. Yet I am confident that we can, with thorough discussions and resolute implementation, achieve true reform and thereby narrow or eliminate those price differentials between domestic and overseas markets that are indicative of Japan's high-cost economic structure and that keep the people from enjoying their affluence to the fullest.
(Promoting Economic Structural Reforms)
Pushing back the economic frontiers and making an even-greater effort for socio-economic revitalization is another important pillar of economic structural reform. I do not need to remind you that creative cutting-edge science and technology, advanced information communications, and the rest are all intellectual assets sustaining a country's future and that they constitute the foundations from whence are born affluent standards of living and sophisticated industries. Making up for Japan's late start in these areas, we will, along with seeking to achieve prosperity based upon scientific and technological creativity, promoting enhancement of the research and development infrastructure, and revitalizing research and development activities through closer coordination among government, industry, and academia, also make a vigorous effort to, inter alia, develop the information communications technologies and infrastructure needed to promote and accelerate the impulse toward the creation of an advanced information society.
Likewise, the creation of new areas of business is a driving force behind the development of new industrial sectors, contributes to quality employment opportunities, and is very important in reforming Japan's industrial and employment structures, and we thus intend to propose legal amendments designed to facilitate entrepreneurs' access to capital, personnel, and technology.
Given Japan's position and role in the international community, promoting harmony with the rest of the international economy is also another important policy issue. Accordingly, we will seek to strengthen measures for promoting imports and investment in Japan, including measures in support of import industries in import promotion areas. Likewise, we will also work to promote the development of new businesses and to improve residential infrastructure, including enhancing support for those facilities and businesses eligible under the Private Participation Promotion Law. In addition and looking ahead to the 21st century when Japan's demographics will have shifted to the older strata, the government will continue to make a steady effort for social infrastructure improvement in line with the Basic Plan for Public Investment and will otherwise work to promote policies contributing to domestic-demand-led economic management.
Along with promoting these economic structural reforms, the government will draw up a new Economic Plan this year and intends to develop a vision for Japan's socio-economic development looking ahead to the 21st century.
(Resolute Administrative and Fiscal Reform)
If we are to develop a free and energetic society, the first imperative is that the government take the lead in making a serious self-reform effort, and we must do our utmost for administrative and fiscal reform.
The kind of government that we seek to create is one that is able to exercise strong leadership in times of emergency and is capable of responding flexibly to policy issues as they arise at all times -- what might be called an effective and resilient government. Achieving such a government requires that every effort be resolutely bent to continuing the process of administrative reform, including not only eliminating sectionalism and turf wars among administrative departments and always putting ourselves in the people's shoes but also taking a hard look at our governmental modes from the international perspective and pushing ahead with the deregulation efforts that I mentioned earlier, as well as ensuring decentralization, information disclosure, transparency in council deliberations, and more.
Decentralization is an issue of particular urgency, be it in keeping with the overriding principle that administration directly affecting the people's lives should be done under the direction of officials directly elected by the people affected and by local governmental agencies or be it to enable the national government to focus on its core responsibilities. With specific recommendations from the Decentralization Promotion Committee, I intend to draw up a Decentralization Promotion Program without delay, to increase the devolution of responsibility, to ease or eliminate national intervention, to enhance local taxes and other revenue sources, to improve local administrative structures, and otherwise to accelerate the trend to decentralization.
At the same time, we must not forget to ask ourselves if perhaps the national government and private industry or the national and local governments have not gotten a little too comfortable in their relations and if the explanations and information disclosed to residents was always sufficient. It is only with such serious discussion and the self-awareness that it promotes in all sectors of society that the principle of self-responsibility can be accepted by all people everywhere, that we can gain a consensus on what areas government policies are needed in, and that we can achieve true administrative reform.
It is also imperative that there be very intent discussion of government finances, now in a perilous state. While our finances are in very difficult straits, it was decided in the recent package of economic policies to resort to additional bond issues, including deficit-financing bond issues, so as to deal with the immediate economic situation. As a result, the fiscal situation will necessarily get worse. Yet there can be no deferring those fiscal outlays that are truly needed for fundamentally reforming our economic structures and responding to the diverse needs of an aging society if we intend to create a vigorous society looking ahead to the 21st century. On the other hand, it is axiomatic that government spending programs are paid for by the taxpayers and are ultimately borne by the people of today and tomorrow. Along with working for sound and appropriate economic and fiscal management so as to avoid bequeathing an onerous legacy of debt to our children and grandchildren while at the same time flexibly meeting the fiscal demands of diverse administrative needs, it is thus imperative that we promote administrative reform and fiscal reform as an integrated whole.
(Safe and Anxiety-free Social Structures)
While earthquakes, random terrorism, and other events have resulted in a heightened sense of insecurity, government has a basic responsibility to create safe and anxiety-free social structures, and this is one of this Cabinet's top priorities. Especially with reference to the Hanshin-Awaji Great Earthquake earlier this year, building upon the recommendations of the Hanshin-Awaji Reconstruction Committee and fully aware of this region's importance in the nation's society and economy, we will continue to make every effort for a full recovery. Wanting to create a country that is, and neighborhoods that are, resilient in the face of earthquakes and other natural disasters, we have recently drawn up the New Basic Plan for Disaster Prevention containing the guidelines for disaster management from disaster prevention through immediate relief efforts and long-term recovery and rehabilitation, and we intend to draw upon this New Basic Plan for comprehensive guidelines in time of disaster. In addition, along with working to speed up the collection and dissemination of information on the extent of the disaster and to enhance the rapid-response relief efforts, we intend to submit amendments to the Basic Law for Disaster Relief and other legislation to this Session of the Diet so as to strengthen and enhance the national government's rapid-response capabilities. Ensuring that the valuable lessons learned are not lost and working to enhance our overall disaster-response capabilities is, I believe, the best homage we can pay to those who lost their lives.
The frequency of random terrorism and violent crime involving the use of firearms is an unforgivable affront to the kind of safe and anxiety-free society that we seek to create. Given particularly that the use of sarin and other products suitable as weapons of mass destruction against a peaceful civilian population in the many incidents fomented by Aum Shinrikyo adherents and others shocked everyone in Japan and overseas, we are promoting cooperation with the other countries concerned and making a coordinated effort to prevent any recurrence of such events. With regard to gun crimes, we have established a Firearms Countermeasures Promotion Headquarters and are promoting comprehensive policies including vigorous enforcement of the laws plus wide-reaching educational campaigns. Looking ahead, we intend, both getting to the root causes of these incidents and taking action to see that they not recur, to regain that good public order that we have been so justly proud of here.
At the same time, nor may we forget to create a just society in which the people can live healthful and anxiety-free lives. Along with devising responses to the problems of care for the aged and the scarcity of children, problems made more serious by the aging of the population and the popularity of the nuclear family, we will also continue to make every effort to further enhance health care and welfare provisions so that the handicapped can lead normal lives as well as to work for the creation of a discrimination-free society in which everyone's human rights are respected.
In addition, the great efforts of all concerned have recently yielded considerable progress on the Minamata problem, and we intend to continue to make every effort to achieve a comprehensive and final resolution as soon as possible.
Many people have come to feel that the legal provisions regarding religious organizations should be reviewed and revised in that social conditions and religious organizational realities have undergone such very considerable changes since the Religious Organization Law was passed in 1951 that the law as it now stands is not always attuned to the situation as it exists. While firmly respecting the principles of freedom of religion and separation of religion and politics, the government intends to undertake the necessary amendments to the law in line with the results of the careful deliberations in the Religious Organizations Council.
(Contributing to International Peace and Prosperity)
Unending efforts are being made to create a new framework for the international community in the wake of the Cold War's end, but the world is still fraught with elements in flux. The situation today is such that a country can only achieve security and prosperity within a climate of international security and prosperity, and it is imperative that Japan play an even more active role for world security and prosperity in many areas.
The first priority issue after the Cold War is the peaceful solution of regional conflicts. I visited the Middle East recently and saw the Middle East peace process has entered a new phase moving steadily toward peace since the historic agreement between Israel and the PLO two years ago. Seeking to support this historic momentum for peace, I urged the leaders to greater efforts in the peace negotiations and expressed our positive attitude toward continuing economic assistance as well as other contributions to support them. At the same time, I explained to those leaders that, with a view to contributing further to peace between Syria and Israel as well as to United Nations peace-keeping operations, the government of Japan has initiated preparations for the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces to the peace-keeping operation in the Golan Heights looking toward next February. The conflict in former Yugoslavia is another issue that the entire international community should seek to bring to a peaceful resolution, and Japan will not only continue to do all it can in the diplomatic arena in support of peace but will also cooperate with humanitarian support and other means as appropriate.
Another priority issue for the international community following the end of the Cold War is the promotion of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. With the decisions this May to extend the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty indefinitely and on the principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, Japan, as the only country to have suffered nuclear attack, will continue to strongly call upon all nuclear weapon states to make serious efforts for nuclear disarmament toward the ultimate elimination of all nuclear weapons. It is extremely regrettable that China and France have conducted nuclear tests at this time when the nuclear weapon states are expected to exercise the utmost restraint in testing. Japan will continue to strongly call for the cessation of nuclear testing in various international fora and will make maximum efforts for the conclusion of negotiations on a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty at an early stage next year.
In response to the changes in the international situation in the post-Cold War era, we will also continue to vigorously review what defense capabilities are appropriate for the Self-Defense Forces from an overall perspective.
Supporting efforts to eradicate poverty and to shift to market economies and efforts to deal with such global issues as food, the environment, human rights, population, AIDS, and narcotics is another most important pillar of Japan's international contribution, and these are areas in which it is essential that Japan continue to play an even more vigorous role. Thus it was that Japan announced a new Initiative on Women in Development (WID) at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. This initiative attaches special importance to the three priority areas of improving educational standards, women's health, and economic and social participation for women. We will make efforts to expand our development assistance in this field for the implementation of this Initiative. We intend to make an active contribution to sustainable development in the developing countries with this Initiative.
The United Nations is the central forum in seeking to resolve the issues the international community faces, and, on the commemorative occasion of the United Nations' 50th anniversary, reforms aimed at strengthening the functions of the United Nations should be pursued. Japan sees reform of the Security Council, reforms in the economic and social fields, and administrative and financial reform as the three key areas of UN reform, and we will continue to work in cooperation with the other members of the Organization for the early realization of reforms in these three areas. Minister for Foreign Affairs Kono has very recently stated at the General Assembly this government's thinking on, among other things, the importance of development from a new perspective, issues relating to the settlement of conflicts and disarmament and arms control, and United Nations reform. Likewise, Japan, for its part, intends to take advantage of the Special Commemorative Meeting on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations to be held late next month to emphasize anew the importance of United Nations reform.
(For Further Development in the Asia-Pacific Region)
This year, the 50th anniversary of the end of the war, Japan is hosting the APEC Economic Leaders' and Ministerial Meetings in Osaka. The Pacific, once a "sea of battle" with fierce conflict raging, is now becoming a "sea of bounty" achieving more rapid growth than any other region of the world. Founded upon the belief that we should jointly promote economic development in the Asia-Pacific, APEC has, with this region's increasing importance in the world economy, become an indispensable element in sustained economic growth for the world at large. The APEC Osaka Meetings are extremely important conferences holding the key to the promotion of open regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific. As APEC Chair this year, Japan intends to draw up an Action Agenda for furthering the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment and promoting economic and technical cooperation, as well as to submit an ambitious package of "initial actions" demonstrating at home and abroad our firm determination to implement the Action Agenda. We are resolved to play a responsible role for the success of the Meetings.
It is important to Asia-Pacific, and to world, peace and prosperity that we further develop our friendly bilateral relations of cooperation with the United States and the Asian countries.
Looking first at the Japan-U.S. relationship, President Clinton is scheduled to visit Japan in November. On this occasion, we will outline the basic framework of the Japan-U.S. relationship looking toward the next century. We will firmly maintain the Japan-U.S. security arrangements, which provide the political foundations for the broad cooperative relationship between Japan and the U.S., and will endeavor to ensure the smooth and effective operation of these arrangements. In this light, the government will submit to this Session of the Diet for approval a new agreement concerning the cost-sharing program for U.S. forces in Japan. At the same time, we intend to make serious efforts to solve the various issues arising from the presence of the U.S. forces while being careful not to hinder the attainment of the objectives underlying the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. Above all, we deplore the harrowing incident in Okinawa early this month in which a primary school girl was victimized. In view of public opinion nationwide, let alone the feelings of the residents in Okinawa, we are determined to take appropriate measures while demanding the U.S. prevent a recurrence. On the Japan-U.S. economic relationship as well, we intend to continue to strive for its sound workings in the spirit of cooperation.
Our policy toward the Korean Peninsula is based on the promotion of friendly and cooperative relations with the Republic of Korea. On the issue of North Korea's nuclear weapons development, we will contribute actively to the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization in concert with the United States and the Republic of Korea. We will deal with the issue of the normalization talks with North Korea in close contact with the Republic of Korea and other countries concerned, taking into consideration the aspect of contributing to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
It is extremely important to the stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region, and of the world at large, that we build stable and friendly relations of cooperation with China. Along with continuing to support China's policies of reform and openness, we intend to strengthen our candid, serious dialogue with China on the entire range of issues before the international community, including nuclear disarmament.
On relations with Russia, overcoming the negative legacy of the past as seen in the Northern Territories issue and thereby fully normalizing the bilateral relationship can also make a major contribution to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Having recently sent a message to President Yeltsin urging a political decision to resolve the territorial issue, I intend to continue these tenacious efforts in line with the Tokyo Declaration and will work in order to make progress on developing balanced Japan-Russia relations in both the political and the economic fields.
(Improving Politics and Administration)
In dealing with these primary issues of national government, it goes without saying that politics must regain the popular trust. Acknowledging the stern admonishment of the people's distrust of politics and the decline of popular interest in government as demonstrated in the recent election for the House of Councillors, I believe it is essential, if we are to regain popular trust and involvement in politics, that each and every one of us involved in politics very seriously ask ourselves once more what kinds of debate are needed and what kinds of actions should be taken for the future of our country and our people.
It is also imperative that we humbly heed the recent groundswell of criticism over the ethical standards of civil service personnel. If we are to regain popular trust of administration and civil service personnel, it is essential that civil service personnel, servants of all the people, make an even greater effort to maintain the highest ethical standards and not to invite popular suspicion or distrust.
(Conclusion)
Even though we face a number of trying issues, then is no question but that, 50 years after the war's end, we enjoy affluence and peace of mind undreamed of in those difficult times of the past. Yet it is precisely in times such as these that we should dedicate ourselves not to consuming the stock of wealth built up by our predecessors but to building upon today's peace and prosperity to lay the foundations for the next 50 years, to creating a world in which our children and grandchildren can live in material and spiritual comfort in the 21st century, and to creating a Japan such that people will consider themselves fortunate to have been born Japanese.
No matter how difficult attaining these ends may prove, I am determined not to give up but to tackle these issues head-on and to continue to guide the government for their realization availing myself of the collective wisdom and acting in good faith.
In this, I ask for the understanding and cooperation of my fellow members of the Diet and all of the people.
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