On May 28 the House of Representatives (HoR) Budget Committee held an intense deliberation on the right of collective self-defense. The debate was in response to a recently-published report by the "Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for Security," a private advisory body to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and a subsequent press conference held by the Prime Minister and relevant cabinet ministers participated in the deliberations.
From the LDP, House of Representative Gen Nakatani questioned the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers on changes in the security environment surrounding Japan and previous constitutional interpretations.
Mr. Nakatani (HoR) emphasized the responsibilities of Japan and the roles of the Self-Defense Forces in the alliance with the United States "If we continue to see a steady decline in the power of the United States, then Japan must begin to increase the capacity of the Self-Defense Forces so that we are able to take responsibility for the security of Japan in place of US forces," he said.
Mr. Nakatani (HoR) went on to ask the government to clarify past interpretations of the constitution and its views on the right of self-defense, and, speaking directly to the Prime Minister, said, "the constitution should allow for the exercise of collective self-defense only to the extent necessary to protect the lives, freedom, property, and happiness of the people."
The next day, on May 29th, Prime Minister Abe and relevant cabinet ministers attended the House of Councillors (HoC) Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense, where intensive deliberations were held on the topic of "reconstruction of the legal basis for security." House of Councillors members Masahisa Sato and Takashi Uto represented the LDP for questions.
Mr. Sato (HoC) used the examples of a ballistic missile launch and the security of sea lanes. He noted that a Japanese oil tanker came under terrorist attack in the Persian Gulf in April 2004, which was responded to by multinational forces. "A single country cannot keep the peace on its own," he said, "and we must be proactive in our pacifism rather than simply being pacifistic on our own, and it is absolutely necessary to protect the Persian Gulf because it impinges directly on our national interest." He asked for the views of the Prime Minister, placing particular emphasis on the protection of shipping and the cleanup of underwater mines.
Mr. Uto (HoC) noted that the necessity of the debate and deliberation on the right of collective self-defense and other issues was clearly stipulated in Japan's national security strategy approved by the Cabinet at the end of last year, and he asked about the basic attitudes of the government towards this work.
