The Lower House on Tuesday approved a legislative package for implementing the updated Japan-U.S. defense cooperation guidelines and sent it immediately to the Upper House. The action came after agreement among the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the Liberal Party (the LDP's junior coalition partner) and the opposition New Komeito. The legislation is certain to become law, since the three parties hold a majority in the Upper House. Japanese politics is expected to enjoy temporary stability following the endorsement of the most important legislation for the current Diet session, which will end in two months.
Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi will bring the news of the Diet action as an "omiyage" to U.S. President Bill Clinton when they meet at the White House Monday. Obuchi and Clinton are also likely to have friendly but lively exchanges of opinion on a number of economic issues between the two countries. Washington has been pressing Tokyo to rev up domestic growth.
Pending in the remaining Diet session are important bills for streamlining the central bureaucracy and for decentralizing power. But the Obuchi administration will face the session with increased strength, thanks to stepped-up cooperation among the LDP, the LP and New Komeito. This marks a turnaround compared with the lack of strength and low popularity ratings the administration suffered in the first six months after its inauguration last July.