LDP Leadership Election 2024 Candidate Policy Speech Session.

Finally, it's the top of the 7th inning. This is Taro Kono. Thank you for your support.

The world situation has become increasingly complicated. Dictatorial regimes like China and Russia are attempting to unilaterally change the status quo by force. In fact, this is already happening in Ukraine, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea.
Until now, we have hidden behind terms like 'one-country pacifism' or the 'Japan-U.S. alliance.' Previous Liberal Democratic Party leadership elections have focused on discussing the shape of Japan, but now is the time for us to discuss the shape of the world.
Historically, discussions on the future of the world took place during U.S. presidential elections. However, unfortunately, this time, we hear very little debate about the future of the world in the current U.S. presidential election.

Japan must now cooperate closely with countries that share common values, such as freedom and democracy, to discuss how to protect global peace and stability and how to uphold these shared values.
We need to assert Japan’s position and ensure that Japan plays its role.
While building a framework with nations that share these values to protect global peace and stability, Japan must move beyond 'one-country pacifism' and take responsibility for contributing to global peace and stability.
No country can protect its own peace or regional stability alone. We must share this understanding with the public and assert Japan's role and responsibility on the global stage. The time has come for this.
In the Liberal Democratic Party, we are currently discussing amending Article 9 of the Constitution to explicitly state the existence of the Self-Defense Forces. Of course, this is an important first step, but we must go further, and we must act quickly.
Japan must declare its readiness to act when necessary to protect global peace and regional stability. We must communicate this message clearly to the world.
If Japan begins discussing the shape of the world, the world will listen. We must not only speak but also take action.

Japan is a country that supports a liberal, market-driven economy. The prosperity of our economy and the lifestyle we enjoy today have been built by the efforts of each and every Japanese company.
Can the government make the economy prosper just by spending money? Can an industry develop simply because the government offers subsidies?
We must rethink our approach. Can the government really predict the next major industry?

In the 20th century, our world-class automotive and electronics industries were created through the efforts of the private sector. The success of products like the Walkman and the Nintendo Family Computer was the result of the collective wisdom of the people who worked on them.
What we need to do now is not for the government to push specific industries or initiatives but to unleash the potential of the private sector through regulatory reform.
Why can’t we conduct autonomous driving experiments in Japan? In Estonia, autonomous cars are already delivering Kentucky Fried Chicken at 40 kilometers per hour in the city. Meanwhile, in Japan, even though safety officers are on board, these cars crawl along at 6 or 10 kilometers per hour.

In Japan, where the aging population is the most advanced and where autonomous driving is most needed, regulatory reform has not kept pace.
We must pursue regulatory reform to unlock the potential of the private sector, even if it means getting our hands dirty.
I have faced numerous criticisms, whether it was regarding COVID-19 vaccinations or the My Number Card system, but I stood at the forefront and saw those reforms through.

When I was Foreign Minister, I visited 123 countries and held 950 meetings, despite being criticized for 'stamp rally diplomacy.' When Japan faced opposition from the G7 on the Myanmar issue, I negotiated with the opposing countries and resolved the conflict.
At the Palestine conference, Japan was asked to co-chair the meeting.
Moving forward, I will continue pushing reforms, even if it means facing challenges.
Crises are not limited to foreign and security policy. Each citizen faces crises in their daily lives, such as rising prices, concerns about retirement, loneliness, isolation, child poverty, gender disparities, and natural disasters.
We must confront these crises and resolve them one by one.

I want to show you my track record of achieving difficult reforms, and together with you, I want to tackle the crises that our citizens face.
In this leadership election, it’s easy to say, 'Let’s do this, let’s do that.' But benefits come with burdens. Subsidies require financial resources.
As interest rates slowly rise, how will we manage our national finances? It’s no longer enough to say we’ll balance the primary balance.
If we don’t have a clear plan for our fiscal balance, we’ll end up struggling with interest payments and won’t be able to fund essential social security programs.
It’s not a matter of choosing between the economy and fiscal health. We must develop the economy while also ensuring fiscal responsibility.
Before COVID-19, we had the Lehman Brothers collapse, and before that, the Asian financial crisis.
In times of crisis, the government must step in to protect the livelihoods of its citizens. But in times of peace, we must work to build fiscal reserves for the future.
We cannot let this leadership election end with only superficial promises.
We must also address difficult issues and explain them clearly to the public. I believe that the public, with their common sense, is waiting for such discussions.
By having these discussions, we will demonstrate that only the Liberal Democratic Party is fit to lead the country.
I will continue to engage in debate fearlessly until the 27th.
Thank you very much for your support.

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