Japan’s Funds for Allies Finally OKd

The upper house of Parliament gave final approval Wednesday to Japan’s pledge of an additional $9 billion of assistance to the U.S.-led multinational forces in the Middle East.

Approval of a supplemental budget and related bills needed to raise the funds marked an end to a two-year surge in support for the opposition Socialists. It also represented a significant erosion in the pacifist orientation of post-World War II Japanese diplomacy.

As if to confirm the change, NHK, the semi-governmental national radio and TV network, reported on an opinion survey showing support for the ruling conservatives at a historic high and backing for the pacifist Socialists at an all-time low.

Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, whose upper house strength falls 12 seats short of a majority, won approval of the bills only after a series of major compromises with the Komei (Clean Government) Party.