Seven Categories of Security Legislation

Discussion between two leading parties, Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, on security legislations is converging to seven categories. While LDP is offensive in vesting unlimited power on Japanese Self-defense Force, Komeito, disguising itself as a party for peace, is showing reluctance to expand activities of JSDF. Komeito actually no power to deter warmongering LDP, because it had already threw away an option to divorce with LDP on this issue early last year. It is simply a machine of endorsement what LDP is doing.

The discussion is categorized into 1) protection of weapons owned by countries other than United States, 2) fundamental amendment of Peripheral Situation Law, 3) permanent legislation of dispatching SDF, 4) SDF’s activities for international peace, 5) rescuing Japanese citizens in foreign country, 6) amendment of Ship Inspection Law and 7) legislation of collective self-defense right.

In the situation just before Japan is attacked, Japan can only protect weapons of United States in current laws. New legislation will allow JSDF to protect other’s weapons without violating the Constitution that prohibits participation in other country’s war. In the idea of LDP, Peripheral Situation Law will be amended getting rid of geographical limitation of JSDF’s activity, which has been contained in Far East region.

While JSDF is designated to only protect Japan’s homeland, new permanent law for JSDF is supposed to be support foreign forces in overseas. In peace-keeping operation of United Nations, Japanese government is considering easing restriction of use of weapons for JSDF. While it is not clear about how to get achievement, Japanese government is also discussing about sending JSDF to foreign country to rescue Japanese people suffering from terrorism. Coercive inspection for foreign ships is aimed at piracy in some regions. And lastly, collective self-defense right is to symbolize Japan’s new stage for international security.

All those seven issues are something strictly prohibited by interpretation of the Constitution for a long time in post-war era in Japan. Komeito has been trying to set a limitation for those activities in new legislations. However, LDP knows well that Komeito can be appeased, when LDP says “Get out of our coalition.” Komeito is always afraid of someone who can replace its position. It is mainly conservative Innovation Party, which has close relationship with Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe.

So, the discussion is like a kabuki show. Result is apparent: happy end. One possible disturbance for LDP is not Komeito’s protest, but foreign audience who has power to stop the show, say United States.