Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda vowed Friday to start Diet discussions on the establishment of a permanent law that would authorize the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces overseas to engage in peace operations so that Japan can fulfill its duties as a "peace-cooperating nation."
"A peaceful and stable international society is a precious asset to Japan and Japan must do whatever it can to cooperate," Fukuda said during his policy speech that kicked off the 150-day ordinary Diet session. "In order to act swiftly and effectively to (participate in) international peace operations, (I) will start considering the so-called general law."
Fukuda also stressed the need to retain the hikes in the gasoline and other auto-related taxes in order to maintain and repair roads, secure good access to emergency hospitals and to take measures against urban traffic jams.
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