Japan PM Abe names new defence minister in cabinet reshuffle

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday replaced his defence minister in a cabinet reshuffle that otherwise left key government positions largely unchanged.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, who was reappointed, announced the lineup for the new cabinet, with key ministers including finance minister Taro Aso and foreign minister Taro Kono staying on.

"I conducted the cabinet reshuffle today in order to get off to a powerful start for the building of a new country," Abe told a televised news conference.

"I want to maintain the framework of my government management in a stable manner," he said.

But Itsunori Onodera, defence minister since August 2017, was replaced by Takeshi Iwaya, 61, a veteran politician who has had short stints in roles including vice minister for defence and foreign affairs.

The reshuffle follows Abe's reelection as leader of his Liberal Democratic Party last month, which puts him on track to become Japan's longest-serving prime minister.

"It was no surprise that Abe focused on stability rather than a challenge," said Tomoaki Iwai, professor of Japanese politics at Nihon University.

"Abe prioritised imminent tasks such as a fight against deflation so that he can consolidate his power before tackling a revision of the constitution," Iwai told AFP.

After winning a historic third term as LDP head last month, Abe vowed to press ahead with plans to revise Japan's pacifist constitution, which remains a controversial proposition.

During the news conference, Abe voiced hopes to submit a plan to parliament later this year but vowed to seek "wide support" as his junior coalition partner Komeito has insisted there is no need to be hasty.

Iwaya takes over as Japan continues to focus on the threat posed by North Korea despite easing tensions on the Korean peninsula and international negotiations on Pyongyang's denuclearisation.

In an annual defence review released in August, the defence ministry said North Korea remained a "serious and imminent threat".

Japan's 2018 defence white paper also took aim at China's rise as a military power, saying Beijing was sparking "strong security concerns in the region and international community, including Japan".

Abe described Iwaya as "an expert on security."

But Iwai said the new defence chief was something of an unknown quantity.

"Iwaya is not a novice on defence but is also not as experienced as Onodera," he said.

"His capability as defence chief remains unknown."

Newcomers to Abe's cabinet include Satsuki Katayama, the new minister for promoting local economies, who will be the sole female member of the cabinet.

Abe's previous cabinet had two female ministers.

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