Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito started discussion over
new security legislations including exercising collective self-defense right.
After achieving consensus from Komeito, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expects to
submit a package of legislations for more ambitious contribution to international
security in May or later. Because the discussion points were basically for
justifying collective self-defense right, the legislations would actually be
trivial.
Both parties also accumulated meeting before cabinet
decision of collective self-defense right last July. To enable the government
of Japan exercise collective self-defense right, which had been prohibited as
violating the Constitution of Japan, those parties created a virtual concept of
situation in which existence of state were threatened. In other words, they
tried to unleash Japanese Self-defense Force, whenever the government realized
a threat for existence of the state.
One of the legislations they are talking is amendment of Self-defense
Force Act to add a concept of “existence situation.” Japanese Self-defense
Force will be able to join a war outside Japan, when the government recognizes obvious
danger fundamentally overturning people’s right for life, liberty or pursuit of
happiness. They will also enable protecting weapons of not only United States
but also other allied nations including Australia.
Gray zone between a situation being dealt with police or
coast guard and necessity of military power would be another talking point.
Both parties basically agreed on making process of ordering dispatch of
self-defense force easier. The decision will be made by Cabinet decision, not
in actual meeting but through telephone by all Ministers. It is not something a
Cabinet needed to consult with leading parties.
Sweeping floating mine is a controversial issue between two
parties. LDP has been positive to allow self-defense force to be involved in
operation for sweeping floating mines in Persian Gulf. For LDP, Japan has
crucial interest in Persian Gulf, where a number of Japanese oil tankers pass.
However, Komeito thinks that economic importance does not fulfill the condition
of collective self-defense.
But, it is unclear whether Komeito can oppose the argument
of LDP. In the discussion last year, the party made consecutive compromise to
LDP, with reluctance of leaving Abe administration. Komeito is not likely to
divorce with LDP with opposition in security issues, because it knows the merit
of being leading coalition for achievement of other policies including welfare
or social security. In terms of contributing to the alliance with United
States, legislation without controversial argument over collective self-defense
will be working fast.
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