Sep 21 03:13 AM US/EasternTOKYO, Sept. 21 (Kyodo)—(AP) - The two candidates in line to succeed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday emphasized the need to submit to the ongoing extraordinary Diet session a bill to enact a new law to continue Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean for U.S-led antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan.
"It cannot be helped eyeing a new law if it is difficult" to simply extend the current special antiterrorism law in the face of strong resistance by the opposition parties, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said in a debate with Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Taro Aso.
Aso agreed with the necessity to submit the bill to the Diet session, which is scheduled to run until Nov. 10.
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan has repeatedly said it will block a bill to extend the special antiterrorism law. The DPJ-led opposition camp gained a majority of the House of Councillors in the July 29 election.
Fukuda, widely seen as the front-runner in the ruling LDP's presidential election, also criticized Abe over the timing of his decision to resign from the post of prime minister.
"I think he made a mistake in the timing of making his decision," Fukuda said, adding that the premier should have resigned when the LDP suffered a major defeat in the upper house election.
On the war-related Yasukuni Shrine, the source of diplomatic controversy with neighboring countries, Fukuda said he has no intention to realize a plan to build a secular national memorial facility to commemorate the war dead even if he gains power, although he has been pursuing the plan since 2002 when he was chief Cabinet secretary.
He also showed willingness to revise the male-only imperial succession law so women can ascend the throne as a way of ensuring stable imperial succession.
"I think this is an issue that shouldn't be left behind. There is time pressure, so I think we should show a certain direction as early as possible," Fukuda said.
But Aso was cautious over the proposed revision, saying the issue should not be treated "easily" and that it is not an imminent issue.
The winner of the LDP presidential election on Sunday is certain to be the winner in the prime ministerial election as the ruling bloc holds a majority in the more powerful lower house. The new prime minister is to be picked Tuesday.
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