Japan PM wants security changes; global role

Tokyo, May 18: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is urging changes to Japan's security policy to allow its military to defend US forces and play a bigger global role, key elements of a conservative agenda he is pushing ahead of a July election.

Abe, who has made rewriting the post-World War Two pacifist constitution a policy linchpin, made clear today that he wants to find ways to further loosen the US-drafted charter's limits even before it can be amended, a change that will take years.

''The security situation surrounding us has become harsher,'' Abe told a panel of advisers who opened discussions on easing Japan's ban on collective self-defence, or defending allies such as US forces when they come under attack.

Citing threats from North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes, international terrorism and regional conflicts, Abe said: ''It is my responsibility as prime minister to create a more effective framework to deal with this.'' Abe said that under the current interpretation of Article 9 of the 1947 constitution Japan could not shoot down a missile that was headed not for its own soil but towards US territory, nor could a Japanese destroyer counter-attack if a U.S. Navy vessel operating on the high seas was attacked.

Japanese forces participating in peacekeeping operations cannot come to the defence of other countries' soldiers if they are attacked, while the ban can also be construed as prohibiting Japanese forces that are providing rear-guard support to an ally or a multinational force from cooperating too closely.

''It is more vital than ever to seek a more effective US-Japan alliance,'' Abe said.

Article 9 renounces the right to wage war to settle international disputes and bans the maintenance of a military.

Keeping Promises

Successive governments have interpreted the article as allowing armed forces for self-defence an interpretation that has already been stretched by such steps as sending non-combat troops to Iraq - but have ruled out acting in defence of an ally.

Shunji Yanai, a former diplomat appointed by Abe to head the panel, told Reuters earlier this month that the experts were likely to recommend easing the self-imposed ban, although a majority of voters responding to a recent media poll said they preferred to keep the current interpretation.

Parliament's lower house also approved three bills on Friday on education reform, another pillar of Abe's policies, including one aimed at instilling patriotism in students.

The education bills, expected to be enacted by the upper house before parliament's session ends next month, would also require teachers to renew licenses every 10 years, and strengthen the hand of the central government over local school boards.

Abe's recent successes - including this week's enactment of a law on steps for a referendum to revise the constitution - could well boost his popularity, already rebounding after a summit with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao last month cemented a rapprochement with Beijing begun after Abe took office last year.

''He is implementing his public promises, so that's a plus,'' said Takahide Kiuchi, a senior economist at Nomura Securities.

''Opinions are divided on content, but his leadership is being seen positively, and that's boosting his support rates.'' Abe's ruling coalition faces a tough battle to maintain its majority in parliament's upper house in the July election.

A poor showing would not automatically mean the prime minister had to step down, but could ignite calls for him to do so or make him a lame duck.

Reuters>