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The US House of Representatives passed a $636.3 billion defense spending bill that scuttled the F-22 fighter jet program. The passage of the bill followed the threat from President Obama to veto a bill for fiscal 2010, starting October 1, if it included money to continue producing the F-221.
In domestic developments, reports noted that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will urge a reduction in the number of seats in the Lower House in its manifesto for the upcoming August 30 election. The manifesto, to be released by PM Taro Aso, will stipulate that the party trim the powerful chamber's 480 seats by "at least 10 percent" before the next Lower House election after the August 30 poll2.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Yukio Hatoyama, seen as the country's likely next premier, stated that he would end a naval support mission backing US-led forces in Afghanistan early next year. The president of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) told television audience that his party’s basic stance was “not to extend it3."
In other developments, the top commander of US forces in Japan called on Tokyo not to consider going nuclear in the face of North Korean nuclear threats, adding that there was "no reason" for Japan to do so as it was protected by the US nuclear umbrella4.
- 1. “U.S. House passes defense bill after killing F-22,” Associated Press, July 30, 2009, at http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D99P3JB00&show_article=1
- 2. “LDP seeks to reduce size of Diet,” Japan Times, July 30, 2009, at http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090730a2.html
- 3. “Japan PM frontrunner would end Afghan support mission,” Associate Foreign Press, July 31, 2009, at http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iPwWyEztDmhaNnM43sUnc...
- 4. “U.S. forces commander warns against Japan going nuclear,” Associated Press, July 28, 2009, at http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D99NFCM01&show_article=1