Abe Eyes Window for Biggest Military-Rule Change Since WWII
Source: Bloomberg
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, pressed by China and seeking to strengthen ties with the U.S., is considering Japans biggest change in military engagement rules since World War II.
Barred by its interpretation of a pacifist constitution from protecting other nations troops, Japan needs broader deployment abilities, according to Abe, 59. Having increased defense spending two years running and set up a U.S.-style National Security Council, Abe is now seeking to allow Japan to come to the aid of its allies, telling parliament yesterday that its about whether we can exercise this right that every country has.
Chinas escalating challenge to Japan over disputed islands in the East China Sea played into Abes plans to strengthen the military, said ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Katsuei Hirasawa. The initiative, which requires backing by Abes coalition partner, faces public opposition and risks further straining ties with China and South Korea that soured in December with Abes visit to a war shrine in Tokyo.
Abe is determined to do this now because otherwise it is very difficult to get support, said Tsuneo Watanabe, senior fellow at The Tokyo Foundation research center. When regional tensions are low people dont see the need for it.
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Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-05/abe-eyes-window-for-biggest-military-rules-change-in-postwar-era.html
Nanjing to Seoul
(2,088 posts)And because of the cultural idea of saving face, it will not stop. Compromise is seen as weakness in the zero-sum attitude of face saving.
grasswire
(50,130 posts)....in order to increase military powers?
What a novel premise.
rpannier
(24,330 posts)Using is the closest you can get