On Jan. 18, Keidanren released a report on basic national issues including constitutional revision and diplomatic and national security policies. It was the first time this business lobby had put together a set of proposals on these matters.
The nation finds itself confronted with a host of problems that are raising uncertainties about the very foundations of our future, such as the rapid aging of the population, the government's fiscal health, and the lack of natural resources and energy supplies. At the same time, the country is being exposed to additional risks by new threats, such as terrorism, deteriorating public safety and natural disasters. Keidanren began discussing these issues out of concern that the mere extension of old and established policies won't be enough to maintain Japan's development.
In the report, we stressed the importance of the government taking greater initiative to promulgate the basic principles that have supported our postwar prosperity -- democracy, freedom and peace.