TOKYO, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, vowing to stay on the job, insisted Japan must continue to support U.S.-led anti-terrorism operations in the Indian Ocean.
In a policy address Monday at parliament’s opening session, Abe said withdrawing the deployment of refueling Japanese ships in the sea would be an abandonment of Japan's ''international responsibility,” Kyodo news service reported.
The issue relates to Japan's support of the anti-terrorism fight in Afghanistan, which will expire in November if the arrangement isn't renewed. Some of Japan’s opposition parties don't want to renew the anti-terrorism bill.
Abe also has been under pressure to resign because of numerous scandals and resignations from his Cabinet. His party suffered a major setback, losing its majority in the Upper House in the July elections.
On Sunday, Abe reportedly had said he had no intention of staying as leader if the anti-terrorism measure isn't renewed. But Monday, Abe vowed to tackle the nation’s major problems relating to social and regional disparities and public pension.
“I have set my mind on continuing my premiership as we must not let the reforms stop,” Abe said.
