Delivering a key policy speech at the Diet, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reiterated his determination Thursday to push for economic reforms but avoided touching the most controversial issue expected at this year's ordinary Diet session: security bills to expand the scope of Self-Defense Forces missions.
At the outset of the speech, Abe again pledged that Japan "will never give in to terrorism" despite the recent killings of two Japanese hostages by the Islamic State group, and will continue to fulfill "Japan's responsibility in the international community contending with terrorism."
Tokyo will bolster monitoring at immigration offices to prevent potential terrorist attacks and secure the safety of Japanese at home and abroad, he said.