Japan PM Yoshihide Suga Makes First Policy Speech, Vows To Curb COVID Resurgence

In his first-ever policy speech since taking office last September, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Monday outlined his determination to contain the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. He made the speech in the Diet or Parliament as it began its regular session, which will continue through June 16, Xinhua news agency reported.

Suga vowed to tackle the surging infection cases and restore normal life “as soon as possible”. To protect the lives and health of the Japanese people… I will get the situation back to normal as soon as possible. Earlier this month, the Prime Minister had declared a state of emergency in Tokyo and the three surrounding prefectures in a bid to stem the unabated resurgence and has so far expanded it to seven more prefectures including Osaka and Aichi.

We are all ready to deploy the Self-Defense Forces’ medical team if requested by Governors,” he added. As of Monday, the country’s overall Covid-19 infection tally and fatalities stood at 330,683 and 4,304, respectively. What is important is to provide necessary medical services to people in need. We will exhaust all measures to safeguard the medical system.

In his speech, he also pledged to go ahead with preparations to hold the Tokyo Olympics this summer in the face of growing public opposition amid the resurgence. “We will press ahead with preparations, with the determination of building watertight anti-infection measures and holding an event that can bring hope and courage to the world,” Suga said of the Olympics.

Rumors ran wild recently that the Tokyo Olympic Games would be postponed to 2032, immediately causing a stir among athletes who had planned to compete at the showpiece event in less than 200 days. They reaffirmed their commitment to hosting the already-delayed Tokyo 2020 Games this summer.