Members of Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's Cabinet expressed mixed opinions Friday over a proposal by the ruling coalition's chief policymakers to slash spending on official development assistance.
While Foreign Minister Yohei Kono expressed reluctance over the idea, Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa said he thinks the plan is worth considering.
Kono opposed cutting ODA, saying the assistance is something the international community expects from Japan.
ODA is "in part a reflection of Japan's contribution to the international community. The importance of (Japan's) ODA may increase, but it will never be diminished," Kono said.
"The Foreign Ministry has been explaining the importance of ODA, but maybe it was not sufficient," he added.
Miyazawa said that while ODA is an important part of Japan's contribution in the world community, the assistance should be reviewed.
"We should not forget that (ODA) is an important task for our country," Miyazawa said. "But there may be parts that are (being provided) out of habit. It may be important to have the Foreign Ministry review those parts."
Meanwhile, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda did not express explicit support or opposition to the proposed reduction in ODA.
"The government has made efforts to carry out ODA programs in a well-focused and efficient manner. I think it is important to continue improving the transparency and efficiency (of ODA)," the top government spokesman told a regular news conference.
The coalition's policymakers agreed Thursday evening to review ODA spending with an eye to sharply reducing it in the fiscal 2001 budget.
While the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the New Conservative Party have yet to agree on a margin for reducing ODA spending, Shizuka Kamei, chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council, told reporters Thursday evening that he proposed a cut of 30 percent from the fiscal 2000 level.