Abe cites need for Japan to fully exercise right to collective self-defense

[bananas]

Source: Kyodo

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe suggested Tuesday that the Constitution should be amended to give Japan the power to fully exercise the right to collective self-defense.

Referring to a proposed revised constitution presented by his ruling Liberal Democratic Party in April 2012, Abe said that draft was based on the view that Japan “can exercise the right, as guaranteed by international law, to firmly safeguard the lives of the Japanese people.”

Abe was responding to a question by a Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker in a Diet session regarding whether he thinks the government should enable the Self-Defense Forces to exercise every right to self-defense, including collectively and individually.

Last September, Abe’s ruling coalition pushed controversial bills through the Diet that effectuate a Cabinet decision in July 2014 to allow Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense under strict conditions, such as Japan’s survival coming under threat.

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Read more: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/03/01/national/politics-diplomacy/abe-cites-need-japan-fully-exercise-right-collective-self-defense/

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And by "defense", neocon Abe means "offense".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_9_of_the_Japanese_Constitution

The creation of the openly revisionist lobby Nippon Kaigi in 1997 has considerably accelerated the pressure on Article 9: this very influential organization (289 of the 480 Diet members and 15 of the 19 members of the Shinzo Abe government are affiliated) favors the return to the fundamentals of Imperial Japan, including monarchy, State Shinto, and militarism, and "Nippon Kaigi and its allies aim to revise the constitution, particularly Article 9 (which forbids a standing army)".[20]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippon_Kaigi

Shinzo Abe, the prime minister of Japan, serves as a special advisor to the group's parliamentary league.[2]

[iandhr]

1. As the grandson of a Bataan Death March survivor this makes me feel a bit unease.

However with today geopolitics of China's ridiculous maritime territorial claims I understand why their neighbors are pushing back.

[GeoWilliam750]

2. The Nippon Kaigi and the Shinto Association

Are truly frightening organisations, and Abe is senior in both of them. Their influence is enormous, and it may be difficult to turn back the tide.

Abe has also pretty much shut down all media criticism or disagreement. Broadcasters can now be threatened with being shut down for disagreeing or questioning the government. The press has been brought to heel with so many reporters silenced.

Japan has returned to the mind set of the 1920s. The difference though is that there is almost no way to fix the nearly inexorable decline in the birth rate; in the 1920s, the population was young, ignorant, powerless, women had no rights over anything, and the military influential. Now the population is old, women no longer need submit to men, and the influence of the military is small.

Japan's population is about 127 million. In 2016, the number of babies born is likely to be less than 1 million - and it is falling. However, most of Asia - East of India - is like this. Meanwhile, the leaders of so many Asian countries are the children and grandchildren of the leaders during WWII, and many of them are still fighting that war.

For an interesting perspective on TPP, take a look at a map of the seas around China. Japan, the PI, and Singapore control the sea lanes to China. It is interesting that when looking at the current and prospective partners in the TPP, it is the countries that form the ring around China, and with the backing of the US military, could choke off trade with China. The stakes are enormous, and it puts a whole different perspective on the current Democratic Primary.