Over half oppose Japan engaging in collective self-defense: survey

[unhappycamper]

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/01/26/national/over-half-oppose-japan-engaging-in-collective-self-defense-survey/#.UuXaTNKmrcc

Over half oppose Japan engaging in collective self-defense: survey
Kyodo

More than half of the public opposes Japan exercising the right to collective self-defense, or coming to the aid of an ally under attack, compared with more than a third who favor it, a survey said Sunday.

The results of the nationwide telephone survey, conducted over the weekend by Kyodo News, were released after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday in a policy speech at the Diet that the nation’s self-imposed ban on collective self-defense will be reviewed amid his push for a greater security role abroad.

Respondents who opposed using the right to collective defense came to 53.8 percent and those who favored it came to 37.1 percent, the survey said. No margin of error was given.

Reflecting public wariness over nuclear power since the March 2011 meltdowns at the Fukushima No. 1 plant, 60.2 percent said they oppose reactivating the dozens of reactors idled after the disaster and 31.6 percent said they favor it.

[bemildred]

1. I see they haven't all forgotten the joys of war yet. nt