Pnyin - Abe reshuffles cabinet in bid to regain support

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Abe reshuffles cabinet in bid to regain support

Updated: 2007-08-28 07:05

TOKYO: Japan's prime minister appointed experienced conservatives to top
cabinet and ruling party posts yesterday in a reshuffle aimed at
bolstering support following a crushing defeat in elections last month.

Support for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has plunged in recent months over a
spate of gaffes and scandals involving key ministers, culminating in a
humiliating setback in parliamentary polls on July 29.

Abe, who took office in September, was under pressure to appoint capable,
scandal-free ministers and give his government a greater air of authority.

"The members of my new cabinet and I are determined to do our best to win
back the public's trust," Abe said after the new ministers were
officially sworn in by Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace.

Abe's lineup included veteran Nobutaka Machimura, 62, who becomes foreign
minister, a post he held under Junichiro Koizumi, Abe's predecessor.



Former justice and foreign minister Masahiko Komura, 65, returned as
defense chief.

Liu Jiangyong, a professor at Tsinghua University, said Komura was known
for his work as president of the Japan-China Friendship Association.

"It forebodes a good start for Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan's scheduled
visit to Japan from August 29 to September 6," Liu said.

The meeting will be the first between the two nations' defense chiefs in
nine years.

Liu brushed aside concerns about negative effects on Sino-Japanese
relations.

"Though Machimura was foreign minister in Koizumi's cabinet, he has to
share Abe's goal of improving relations with China in the new cabinet,"
Liu said.

Newly appointed Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano - also a ruling
party heavyweight - told a news conference after announcing the new
cabinet: "I believe Prime Minister Abe made appointments of those who can
firmly assume their expected duties.

"I don't believe there is any magical way to immediately restore support
to the Cabinet, but I hope to make steady efforts to strengthen
government accountability," Yosano said.

Both Machimura and Komura fit easily with Abe's right-leaning, pro-US
government.

"The US-Japan relationship remains the cornerstone of our foreign
policy," Machimura told reporters after his appointment. He added he
would work to extend Japan's mission to refuel coalition warships in the
Indian Ocean to support US-led efforts in Afghanistan.

Fukushiro Nukaga, 63, a former defense minister and supporter of a joint
missile defense with the United States, was appointed to lead the Finance
Ministry. He replaces Koji Omi.

Abe also made key changes in the leadership of his ruling Liberal
Democratic Party, moving his conservative foreign minister, Taro Aso, to
LDP secretary-general, the No 2 post. He also filled two other top LDP
posts in a bid to rejuvenate the troubled ruling party.

Abe's government has been riddled with scandals and missteps. Three of
Abe's ministers have been forced to resign, and one committed suicide
amid a money scandal.

Agencies - China Daily

(China Daily 08/28/2007 page1)

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