Abe Eager to Lift Japan’s Ban on Collective Defense
ASIA--PACIFIC, 30 Sep 2013
Jiji Press – TRANSCEND Media Service
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his resolve on Wednesday [25 Sep 2013] to change the interpretation of the constitution [Article 9] in order to allow his country to exercise the right to collective self-defense.
In a speech delivered in New York at a meeting hosted by Hudson Institute, Abe said he is determined to make Japan a country with active pacifism.
Abe said Japanese ships are not able to defend U.S. vessels in the high seas because such a move amounts to collective self-defense considered unconstitutional.
Even if other countries’ forces are attacked during U.N.-led peacekeeping operations, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces cannot fight back for the same reason, he said.
The Japanese government is now seriously considering how to address those challenges, Abe said.
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