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Japan's Partisan Politics Stifles Foreign Policy

Editorial, Asahi (Japan) | October 23, 2008

Japan's Lower House is expected to approve a bill extending the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. ++ The presiding committee failed to use this opportunity to discuss other important foreign policy issues, such as contributions to Afghanistan and the deteriorating situation in Pakistan, the primary recipient of Japanese fuel. ++  Instead, "the two-day deliberations were unmistakably predominated by inward-looking, partisan jockeying." ++ The Upper House must address these foreign policy concerns.