Obuchi gov't to lead Japan out of slump: Vietnam daily

HANOI, Oct. 7 Kyodo The new cabinet of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi is a strong one that can handle major economic, political and security challenges as Japan greets the new millennium, a Vietnamese military daily commented Thursday.

The Quan Doi Nhan Dan (People's Army) said in a commentary, "The establishment of the coalition government shows that Japan now seems to have a strong cabinet to cope with major economic, political and security challenges at the junction of the two centuries."

On Tuesday, Obuchi formed a tripartite coalition cabinet with the Liberal Party and the New Komeito party. The coalition is expected to give his LDP a firm grip on the parliament.

Commenting on the agreement by the three parties to amend laws to pave the way for Japan's Self-Defense Forces to participate in U.N. peacekeeping forces, the daily said it is a "pivotal change" in Japan's security and foreign policies.

"Analysts hold that this is one of the important steps to implement the strategy of turning Japan from an economic superpower into an economic-political one," the commentary said.

The daily cautioned, however, "The problems to arise in the Japanese government's domestic and foreign policies in the time to come may lead to disagreement among the coalition parties, and the question whether the Japan ship can sail out of major waves is still left unanswered."

COPYRIGHT 1999 Kyodo News International, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group