Abe seeks constitutional revision for collective self-defense
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, all but certain to be Japan’s next premier, again expressed his strong ambition Tuesday to revise the nation’s pacifist Constitution and enable the exercising of the right to collective self-defense on specific occasions.
But Abe, known for his hawkish position on security issues, also did not rule out the possibility of just changing the government’s interpretation of the war-renouncing Constitution to achieve the goal. The current interpretation prohibits Japan from exercising the U.N.-guaranteed right.
”Given the expectations for Japan to contribute actively on the international stage and to maintain stability and security in the region, we must consider more seriously specific cases (to exercise the right),” Abe told a news conference in response to a reporter’s question, citing changes in international affairs since the Constitution was written 60 years ago.
”Of course I think that revising the Constitution and enacting a new one should be the next thing to be put on the political schedule. We should, however, also consider (enabling the exercising of the right) under the current interpretation or a new interpretation,” he said.
The top government spokesman also said Japan needs new legislation to enable the overseas dispatch of Self-Defense Forces at any time without having to pass special laws on each occasion as is currently required.
Abe is the front-runner in the race to succeed Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Revising the 1947 Constitution, drafted by the U.S. postwar occupation, is top on his policy agenda, in which he also calls for a greater role by Japan in diplomacy and by its troops in international missions.
He has said that removing the self-imposed restrictions on exercising the right of collective self-defense will enable Japan to work ”more effectively” with the United States in their security alliance. Under the current interpretation, Japan cannot take action to defend its ally even when the ally is under attack.