Japan split over revision to pacifist constitution

[Jesus Malverde]

Japan marked the 67th anniversary of its postwar constitution Saturday with growing debate over whether to revise the war-renouncing charter in line with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push for an expanded role for the military.

The ruling conservative party has long advocated revision but been unable to sway public opinion. Now Abe is proposing that the government reinterpret the constitution to give the military more prominence without having to win public approval for the revisions.

His push, backed by the U.S. which wants Japan to bear a greater burden of its own defense, has upset the liberals who see it as undermining the constitution and democratic processes.

Hundreds of people gathered at a Tokyo rally commemorating Constitution Day, a national holiday.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20140503/japan-constitution-959355b9b2.html

GD x-post

[kristopher]

1. EDITORIAL: Abe taking pacifist Constitution away from the people

This is the best article I've seen on the topic:

EDITORIAL: Abe taking pacifist Constitution away from the people

May 03, 2014
Japan’s Constitution cannot be revised with a simple majority vote in the Diet.

Any constitutional amendment must first be initiated through a vote of two-thirds or more of all members of each house in the Diet and then approved by the public with a majority vote in a special referendum. This procedure is stipulated in Article 96 of the Constitution. Last spring, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe began a political campaign to make it easier to rewrite the Constitution by easing this procedure, but later gave up the idea.

Abe’s attempt was foiled by opposition expressed by many Japanese who became aware of its dangerous implications. They realized that if the government is allowed to change the Constitution at will, the all-important principles of constitutionalism, which restrict the power of government, would be violated.

Abe is now seeking to tamper with the supreme law in a different way.

Instead of pursuing a change in a constitutional provision, the prime minister is working to enable Japan to exercise its right to collective self-defense through a Cabinet decision to change the government’s interpretation of the Constitution regarding the issue...

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/views/editorial/AJ201405030026

Here are a couple more:

Abe refuses to bend in quest for constitutional revision
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201405030048

LDP, New Komeito set to clash over collective self-defense
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201405020052

Does pacifism need an update?
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/05/03/national/politics-diplomacy/pacifism-need-update/

Editorial: Collective self-defense not an option for Japan under current Constitution
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/perspectives/news/20140503p2a00m0na012000c.html

[AScott]

2. It's been long enough. Let them pay for their own defense.

[Jake Stern]

3. The war has been over for almost 70 years

Japan is highly unlikely to stage anymore invasions. The should defend themselves.