Noda again urges Japan to join regional trade talks
In live political debate on Internet, PM vows to protect farmers
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Japan's first political debate streamed on the Internet yesterday drew 10 party leaders including (from left) LDP's Mr Abe, PM Noda and Japan Future Party leader Yukiko Kada. Nuclear energy was a hot topic debated. - PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
TOKYO - Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has called again for Japan to join the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade liberalisation talks, pledging to protect the country's farmers if necessary.
He made the appeal during a political debate shown live only on Internet television last night.
"We will protect whatever ought to be protected," he said during the debate, held in the run-up to the Dec 16 snap general election.
The political debate, the first to be conducted in Japan over the Internet, saw Mr Noda trading barbs with nine other party leaders on their respective policies.
