Japan Press Weekly

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2015 March 18 - 24 TOP3 [POLITICS]

Shii: Ruling bloc’s agreement to legalize collective self-defense right is unconstitutional

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo held a press conference in the Diet building on March 19, condemning the ruling parties for agreeing on a joint document to create a legal framework for Japan’s exercise of the right to collective self-defense. The following is an excerpt of his statement:

The joint document approved on March 18 by the governing Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komei Party clearly reveals their aim to turn Japan into a nation which can wage wars abroad.

The most contentious issue is that Japan’s Self-Defense Forces will be allowed to enter even “combat zones” in order to provide military support to the U.S. Forces.

It is a matter of extremely grave concern that the agreement intends to enable the SDF to go into “the location of an ongoing battle” under the name of “search and rescue operations”. This will further increase the possibility that SDF troops may become involved in actual combat.

On top of that, it states that the SDF will be permitted to participate in non-UN-led activities for security or humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, as well as to use weapons if necessary.

This will pave the way for engaging the SDF in multinational forces’ “security operations”. Just because there is a “cease-fire agreement”, SDF troops may be dispatched to areas where armed groups are increasing their activities, and take part in operations to mop up those militants.

It will be left in the hands of the government to decide when to invoke the collective self-defense right. In response to questions from JCP lawmakers, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo hinted at the possibility of using the right even in a case where the U.S. makes a preemptive strike and then faces a counterattack.

The joint document is essentially an order to prepare bills to allow the SDF to participate in wars launched by the United States. This goes against the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution.

The JCP demands that the ruling parties immediately stop their moves to enact war legislation.


Past related article:
> Ex-LDP executives strongly disapprove of Abe’s runaway policies [March 1, 2015]