Japan Cabinet Approves Bills For Greater SDF Role

TOKYO, JAPAN - MAY 14: The Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday approved security bills that would significantly expand the scope of overseas operations by the Self-Defense Forces in what would represent a major change to Japan's post-World War II exclusively defense-oriented security policy. The government plans to submit the bills to the Diet on Friday. If passed, the legislation would remove geographical restrictions on where the SDF can operate, and under certain conditions allow it to defend the United States and other friendly countries by exercising the right to collective self-defense. The proposed legislation was reflected in Japan-U.S. defense guidelines revised on April 27 amid an increasingly severe security environment in the Asia-Pacific region, with concerns over China's muscle-flexing in the East and South China seas and military buildup as well as North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons development. The government will present two bills to the Diet -- a new permanent bill that would allow the SDF to provide logistical support for foreign military in international peacekeeping activities and the other comprising revisions to 10 existing laws. Abe said the bills are intended to "envisage every possible contingency and make seamless preparations to protect the lives of Japanese people and their peaceful lives," brushing aside what he termed as "irresponsible labeling" by opposition parties and others of the bills as "war legislation." "Some people may have unarticulated anxiety that (the legislation) may drag Japan into war involving the United States. I would like to clearly tell such people that such a thing will never happen," Abe told a news conference. Rather, a firmer alliance with the United States and increased deterrence in reflection of the proposed legislation "will reduce risks that Japan would get involved in conflicts, Japan would be attacked and the lives of Japanese people would be endangered," he said.
TOKYO, JAPAN - MAY 14: The Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday approved security bills that would significantly expand the scope of overseas operations by the Self-Defense Forces in what would represent a major change to Japan's post-World War II exclusively defense-oriented security policy. The government plans to submit the bills to the Diet on Friday. If passed, the legislation would remove geographical restrictions on where the SDF can operate, and under certain conditions allow it to defend the United States and other friendly countries by exercising the right to collective self-defense. The proposed legislation was reflected in Japan-U.S. defense guidelines revised on April 27 amid an increasingly severe security environment in the Asia-Pacific region, with concerns over China's muscle-flexing in the East and South China seas and military buildup as well as North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons development. The government will present two bills to the Diet -- a new permanent bill that would allow the SDF to provide logistical support for foreign military in international peacekeeping activities and the other comprising revisions to 10 existing laws. Abe said the bills are intended to "envisage every possible contingency and make seamless preparations to protect the lives of Japanese people and their peaceful lives," brushing aside what he termed as "irresponsible labeling" by opposition parties and others of the bills as "war legislation." "Some people may have unarticulated anxiety that (the legislation) may drag Japan into war involving the United States. I would like to clearly tell such people that such a thing will never happen," Abe told a news conference. Rather, a firmer alliance with the United States and increased deterrence in reflection of the proposed legislation "will reduce risks that Japan would get involved in conflicts, Japan would be attacked and the lives of Japanese people would be endangered," he said.
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Editorial #:
473709964
Collection:
Kyodo News
Date created:
May 14, 2015
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Clip length:
00:02:45:15
Location:
Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
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Source:
Kyodo News
Object name:
15-05-14-2-5.mov