Reuters AlertNet Lite - Japan's Abe plans push to redraft constitution

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

Japan's Abe plans push to redraft constitution

15 Nov 2006 00:54:51 GMT
Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Tuesday that he would push during his term to revise Japan's war-renouncing constitution as part of his plan to improve the country's defense capabilities.

Saying he hoped it would foster a "new spirit" in Japan, Abe said, in an interview with The Washington Post, that he would seek a new constitution within six years.

In the interview posted on the newspaper's Web site, Abe also suggested that his administration could take the interim step of reinterpreting the existing constitution to more rapidly achieve his goal.

The Japanese constitution drafted by U.S. occupation forces after World War Two bans the country from maintaining a military, although it has been interpreted as allowing armed forces purely for defense purposes.

Abe also vowed to fortify the U.S.-Japan Security Alliance during his first official meeting with President George W. Bush at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Hanoi this weekend, the Post said.

Despite the strong Japan-U.S. alliance, Abe noted that it is not clear whether Tokyo is permitted under its constitution to shoot down a ballistic missile flying over Japanese territory en route to the United States, the Post said.

Japan had to pass special laws to allow its armed forces to be sent to the Indian Ocean off Afghanistan and to Iraq in support of U.S. operations.

Even then, its forces were allowed to operate only in noncombat zones and to take part only in activities such as reconstruction and logistical support.

Leading Japanese scholars have said that rather than revising the constitution, policy changes could be made through official clarifications issued by the cabinet, the Post said.

Abe called for analysis of new security protocols on a case-by-case basis, the newspaper said.

"We need to take up each individual example and study whether they [actually] infringe upon the constitution," said Abe.

Abe also vowed that Japan would adhere to its nonnuclear principles, but added that he could not stop private citizens from expressing their views.

"For the general public to discuss this matter -- for example, academics, scholars or journalists -- is the freedom of the Japanese people," said Abe. "I am not in a position of restricting that."

Controversy erupted last month when a key member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party said Japan should discuss whether it should acquire nuclear weapons after North Korea conducted a nuclear test.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• North Korea profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• Judy Collins to Perform War Victim Benefit Concert
Clear Path International - USA

• Judy Collins to Perform War Victim Benefit Concert in Vermont
Clear Path International - USA

• Operation USA's Continued Response To Hurricane Katrina
Operation USA - USA

• ADRA Releases Latest Edition of The Original Really Useful Gift Catalog
ADRA - International

• It's Everyone's Challenge: ADRA Commemorates World AIDS Day
ADRA - International

MORE >>

Latest news

• Japan's Abe plans push to redraft constitution

• Marine pleads not guilty in Iraq grandfather death

• UK raises aid to Yemen to fight poverty

• Most hostages in Iraqi mass kidnap said freed

• FACTBOX-Landmines: savage weapon throughout the world

MORE >>

Last updated:Wed Nov 15 00:56:40 2006