Shinzo Abe's ruling party scores 'own goal' in Japan's security debate | World News - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Shinzo Abe's ruling party scores 'own goal' in Japan's security debate

Reuters | By, Tokyo
Jun 05, 2015 01:32 PM IST

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling party suffered an embarrassing potential setback this week when an expert it called to comment in parliament said legal changes to let troops defend an ally under attack would violate the constitution.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling party suffered an embarrassing potential setback this week when an expert it called to comment in parliament said legal changes to let troops defend an ally under attack would violate the constitution.

Japan-s-Prime-Minister-Shinzo-Abe-delivers-a-speech-at-a-seminar-in-Tokyo-Reuters
Japan-s-Prime-Minister-Shinzo-Abe-delivers-a-speech-at-a-seminar-in-Tokyo-Reuters

Abe's cabinet last year adopted a resolution reinterpreting the pacifist constitution to let Japan exercise its right of "collective self-defence", or militarily aiding an ally under attack. The change is part of Abe's more muscular defence policy that would give Japan a bigger role in the US-Japan alliance.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The ruling bloc aims to pass bills to implement that change - which would drop a long-standing ban on troops fighting overseas - in the current session of the parliament and has been expected to do so, given its majority in both chambers.

But Waseda University's constitutional expert Yasuo Hasebe, called by Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to comment in a parliamentary panel on Thursday, shocked his hosts by saying the change would violate the constitution. The view was echoed by two other experts invited by opposition parties.

"I think allowing the use of the right of collective self-defence violates the constitution," Hasebe said in response to a question from an opposition lawmaker.
"It cannot be explained within the framework of the basic logic of the past government views ... and considerably damages legal stability."

Government officials quickly rejected the view but opposition lawmakers seized on the comments to criticise the government during a debate on the planned legislation on Friday.

"It looks like what (defence) minister (general) Nakatani is saying is deceiving the people," said Kiyomi Tsujimoto of the opposition Democratic Party, after Nakatani defended the bills.

The legislation has been expected to pass in a session of parliament that could be extended through August. But some analysts said enactment could be delayed, if not derailed.

"The LDP scored an 'own goal' . The 'incident' has not only flared up in cyberspace, but is also reported widely by mainstream media," said Sophia University professor Koichi Nakano. "It is now conceivable that the legislative agenda will seriously be delayed."

Voters are confused and divided over the proposed changes.

Some 80% of respondents to a Kyodo news agency poll last month said the government's explanation of legislation to implement the security policy shift was insufficient. Nearly 48% opposed the bills while 35.4% were in favour.

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! - Login Now!

Get Latest World News along with Latest News from India at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On