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The danger in Abe's constitutional amendment proposal
The danger in Abe's constitutional amendment proposal
BY CRAIG MARTIN Aug 5 Japan Times Opinion
TOPEKA, KANSAS – Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has demanded that the Diet move forward with debating his Liberal Democratic Party’s proposal for amending Article 9 of the Constitution, with a view to possibly having a vote on the issue in 2020. Having failed to retain a two-thirds supermajority in the Upper House election on July 21, he will need to sway some members outside of his coalition to win approval of any such amendment, and thus the debate will be more meaningful, its consequences more significant.
Many observers will be struck by how modest the new amendment proposal seems, and thus may be lulled into thinking that there is little to fear from it. This is a grave mistake. Once analyzed in its broader context, the ramifications of the proposal look much more dangerous.
Many observers will be struck by how modest the new amendment proposal seems, and thus may be lulled into thinking that there is little to fear from it. This is a grave mistake. Once analyzed in its broader context, the ramifications of the proposal look much more dangerous.
Much more: legal analysis of Abe's strategy to change the restrictions on the use of armed forces by Japan
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2019/08/05/commentary/japan-commentary/danger-abes-constitutional-amendment-proposal/#.XUjJ0VVKi00