Komei reaffirms its policy of revising Article 9

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Komei reaffirms its policy of revising Article 9

In its draft action plan for the next two years published on September 13, the ruling Komei Party reaffirmed its call for Article 9 of the Constitution to be revised. The action policy will be adopted in its party congress on September 30.

The draft action plan proposes that such provisions as "maintenance of the Self-Defense Forces as minimum necessary war potential" and their "active international contribution" be added to Article 9 in order to pave the way for increasing the dispatch of the SDF abroad.

Whereas Komei's action policy adopted in its last Congress two years ago stated that the majority of party members opposed allowing Japan to exercise the right of collective self-defense, the present draft avoided mentioning the party's position on this issue.

Referring to the series of adverse revisions of the social welfare programs including pension, nursing care, and medical care that Komei has pushed through with its coalition-partner, the Liberal Democratic Party, it stated, "Though some people felt pain, these were necessary reforms requiring all citizens to share the responsibilities."
- Akahata, September 14, 2006