The ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday unveiled a set of campaign pledges for an Upper House election this summer, giving more weight to foreign policy as the economy is showing signs of slowing down under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The LDP selected foreign policy and defense as the first of six pillars for its election platform, attaching great importance to strengthening the bilateral alliance between Japan and the United States after Abe hosted U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, in late May as the first state guests since Emperor Naruhito took the throne.
Foreign policy and defense are followed by a strong economy, reliable society, regional revitalization, and disaster relief and prevention. Constitutional reform, the long-held goal of Abe and the LDP, is the sixth pillar.