Abe begins third term as Japan's leader

Shinzo Abe took office Wednesday for a third term as Japan's prime minister, appointing a former military officer as his defense minister but keeping the other members of his previous Cabinet.

Parliament re-elected Abe after his Liberal Democratic Party won a renewed mandate in a Dec. 14 snap election that the prime minister said was needed for him to carry out further economic and political reforms.

Abe said economic recovery is vital to achieving his key policy goals such as stronger national security and carrying out the most drastic reforms of the economy since World War II.

"My commitment to protecting public safety, lives and happiness is unchanged," Abe said in a late night news conference "We must, of course, deal with many issues, but nothing can be accomplished without a strong economy."

Gen Nakatani, Abe's new defense minister, headed the Defense Agency in 2001 to 2002 under former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, before it won full-fledged ministry status. A graduate of the National Defense Academy, Nakatani attained the  rank of first lieutenant before leaving the military.

Nakatani favors a stronger role for the military, which is constrained by the country's commitment to pacifism under the constitution drafted by the American occupation forces following Japan's defeat in World War II.

Nakatani said Abe specifically asked him to tackle "national security in order to protect Japanese territory, the people's lives and properties."

This time, "I feel more strongly about my responsibility," he said. "Japan's security environment has changed, and we must fortify our national security."

Nakatani's predecessor, Akinori Eto, was one of several ministers whose political funding reports were questioned by opposition lawmakers during the recent parliamentary session. Two resigned their Cabinet posts but were re-elected anyway.

Abe favors revising the constitution as part of his effort to fortify Japan's military, after already revising policies to allow the defense forces to aid allies if they come under attack under a policy dubbed "collective self-defense." Analysts said Abe likely wanted a stronger figure to help handle what is expected to be fierce questioning over defense-related issues in upcoming parliamentary debates.

"Of course, I will tackle various key policies other than the economy," he said, citing education, social welfare, reconstruction of disaster-stricken areas and revising the constitution.

"It is important for everyone to think about a constitution that is appropriate for 21st century Japan. I believe that would be a first step toward building a new Japan," Abe added.

Nakatani said he would seek the enactment of legislation needed to accommodate Japan's right to collective defense. He said he intends to explain to the public that the purpose is not "to allow Japan to wage war or to use aggression, but to protect the territory of Japan and the people's lives and property."

His appointment could draw fire from China, especially given Abe's stated goal of a stronger security profile for Japan that includes passing a law in 2015 to reinterpret its pacifist constitution. Although relations between the two nations have long been uneasy,  Abe met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in early November at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, where both pledged to set aside disputes over Japan's World War II invasion of China and, more recently, a chain of islands claimed by both Tokyo and Beijing. 

Apart from his security agenda, Abe faces strong pressure to more aggressively tackle politically tough reforms for boosting the economy, two years after he took office for a second time. He also served as prime minister from 2006 to 2007 before quitting due to health problems.

The economy fell into recession last year following a sales tax hike in April to 8 percent from 5 percent, prompting Abe to put off until 2017 a tax hike planned for October 2015.

Since Abe must call the next election by December 2018, he could have another four years to deliver on pledges to open markets and streamline regulations that have hindered Japan's competitiveness. So far, Japan's powerful bureaucracy and its rural and commercial sectors have resisted major changes, foiling earlier reform efforts.

Al Jazeera and wire services