Government poised to submit contingency bills

The government on April 1 decided to submit to the current Diet session wartime-related bills to cope with possible military attacks against Japan.

The bills to be submitted are the bill on response to contingencies, the bill to amend the SDF Law, and the bill to amend the Security Council of Japan Establishment Law.

The bill on response to contingency if enacted will allow the prime minister to decide that Japan is under an outside military attack, so that the Cabinet can work out a basic policy on mobilization of the Self-Defense Forces and people, and set up headquarters comprising all Cabinet ministers.

In principle, these procedures need a Diet approval in advance, but a post-approval will replace it in case of an emergency.

The bill also covers situations that arise from terrorist attacks and suspicious ships which are short of military attacks. (end)