Newly appointed Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya, who has long been a key defense policymaker of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, distanced himself Thursday from its earlier proposal that Japan should consider doubling its defense budget and procuring an aircraft carrier and F-35B stealth jets.
Iwaya, a Lower House member elected from Oita Prefecture, was a key member of the LDP¡¯s policy panel on defense affairs before he was appointed defense minister in Tuesday¡¯s Cabinet reshuffle.
¡°Of course I have participated in the discussions at the party and will certainly take into consideration the proposals from the ruling LDP,¡± Iwaya said during his first joint interview with media outlets Thursday at the Defense Ministry.
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