'Defense ministry' bill to enable SDF to give full-scale assistance to U.S. in war is unconstitutional: JCP Akamine

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'Defense ministry' bill to enable SDF to give full-scale assistance to U.S. in war is unconstitutional: JCP Akamine

Japanese Communist Party representative Akamine Seiken in the House of Representatives plenary session on October 27 sharply criticized "defense ministry"-related bills, stressing that making assistance to U.S. forces in wars abroad a primary mission of the Self-Defense Forces is unconstitutional.

The "defense ministry"-related bills, on which the Lower House started discussing on Oct. 27, are to attach primary importance to the SDF's overseas deployment and to upgrade the Defense Agency to a "ministry".

Pointing out that the government has explained that the SDF with a minimum defense capability necessary for self-defense is constitutional, Akamine asked, "How is it possible for the Constitution to allow such a bill to assign the SDF to carry out overseas activities as their primary mission?"

In response to Akamine, DA Director General Kyuma Fumio stated that the bills "have no problem" in relation with the Constitution.

Referring to the SDF's activities assisting the U.S. forces in the Indian Ocean and Iraq as well as the planned realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, Akamine stressed that the bills are aimed at carrying forward the SDF's full-scale support of U.S. forces in wars abroad.

Akamine also criticized the establishment of a defense ministry stating, "This upgrading of the DA is designed to build a military administration to support the new Japan-U.S. security setup."

Kyuma justified the upgrading of the DA by stating, "The importance of the DA's role is increasing" because of the SDF's increased domestic and international activities.
- Akahata, October 28, 2006