Japan Press Weekly

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2008 April 30 - May 13 [PEACE]

Hawkish young lawmakers discuss permanent overseas deployment of SDF

A group of pro-military younger Dietmemers of the Liberal Democratic, Democratic, Komei, and the People’s New parties is seeking LDP-DPJ cooperation in paving the way for a permanent law to enable Japan to send its troops for military action outside of Japan.

The “Young Dietmembers’ Group for a Security System for the New Century” held its executive meeting in the Lower House Members’ Office Building on May 12 to discuss its action plan.

The group’s leader, Nakatani Gen, former Director General of the Defense Agency, said, “DPJ support is essential for getting the permanent law enacted. This is why our meeting is very important.”

The group decided to have a study meeting on a weekly basis with staunch advocates of the Japan-U.S. military alliance as lecturers, including former Japanese ambassador to the United States Yanai Shunji, who used to chair a panel commissioned by Prime Minister Abe Shinzo to study about exercising the right of collective security.

The group’s board members include DPJ Maehara Seiji, Komei Party Ueda Isamu, and LDP Nishimura Yasutoshi in addition to Nakatani. - Akahata, May 13, 2008