Japan's Finance Minister Will Run for Premiership
TOKYO -- Japan's finance minister formally announced that he will run for prime minister when Junichiro Koizumi's term ends in September, saying he would seek to soothe tense relations with neighboring Asian countries and bolster Japan's economy.
Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki told reporters he would work to revive Japan's regional standing if he becomes premier. He plans to establish a hot line to other Asian leaders as part of those efforts, he said in a news conference announcing his candidacy.
Mr. Tanigaki, who becomes the country's first announced candidate in the race, said he wants to improve relations with China and South Korea, which have soured in part over Mr. Koizumi's annual visits to a controversial war shrine.
"I do not intend to visit the shrine if I become prime minister," Mr. Tanigaki said. "We can't even hold talks between the leaders of Japan and its neighboring countries. It's an abnormal situation."
Mr. Koizumi's term as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party ends Sept. 30, and he has said he won't run again. Whoever wins the party election is almost certain to be named prime minister by Parliament's LDP-dominated lower house.
Mr. Tanigaki is seen as something of a long shot, though.
Polls indicate Shinzo Abe, the chief cabinet spokesman, is a strong favorite to succeed Mr. Koizumi, though he has yet to announce his candidacy. Foreign Minister Taro Aso is also expected to run.
In contrast with Mr. Tanigaki, Mr. Abe is known for promoting a more assertive Japan in dealing with China and North Korea.
He supports Mr. Koizumi's stance that the prime minister's visits to the Yasukuni war shrine are a "matter of the heart." Media reports have suggested, though, that Mr. Abe will avoid any visits to the shrine this year because he doesn't want it to become a campaign issue.
Before meeting with Mr. Koizumi, Mr. Tanigaki told reporters that the country may need to raise its consumption tax to 10% by the first half of the next decade if it is to achieve a planned budget surplus by 2011.
"I will not hide from the difficult issues we face," he said.
Japan has been struggling to raise tax revenue to pay for retirement benefits and health care for its rapidly aging population, and lawmakers have long been debating an increase in the consumption tax.
Earlier this month, Japan's cabinet approved a plan to trim government spending during the next five years to achieve a budget surplus by fiscal 2011.
The plan also acknowledged the need to raise the consumption tax, which is similar to a sales tax, from its current level of 5%, but didn't specify the timing and the size of the increase.
日本财务大臣称若当选首相将不参拜靖国神社
日本财务大臣谷垣祯一(Sadakazu Tanigaki)正式宣布将竞选日本首相，接替将于9月离职的小泉纯一郎(Junichiro Koizumi)的位子。他表示，将寻求改善与亚洲邻国的紧张关系并推动日本经济的发展。
谷垣祯一向记者透露，如果当选日本首相，他将调整日本的亚洲政策；还准备与亚洲其他国家的领导人建立热线电话联系。
谷垣祯一称，他希望改善同中国和韩国的关系。小泉纯一郎在任期间屡次参拜靖国神社损害了日本与中国和韩国的关系。
谷垣祯一称，如果成为日本首相，他就不会去参拜靖国神社。日本首相与亚洲其他国家的领导人无法举行元首会晤，这种情况不正常。谷垣祯一是第一个表示将竞选首相一职的候选人。
小泉的自民党总裁任期将于9月30日结束，他已经表示不会寻求连任。成为自民党党魁，也就意味著势必会成为新任日本首相，因为日本众议院多数席位把持在自民党的手中。
