politics

Diet panel to vote on security bills amid chaos

21 Comments
By MARI YAMAGUCHI

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

21 Comments
Login to comment

This is not democracy or politics, this is ABETICS he is listening only himself

16 ( +17 / -1 )

“Anyone who understands the basic principle of the constitution cannot help but oppose the legislation,” Aki Okuda, a leader of the student group known as SEALDs, or Students Emergency Action for Liberal Democracies, told reporters in Tokyo. “It’s ridiculous, and the bills’ legal questions have fueled the people’s anger.”

Completely agree. Regardless of where you stand on the issue of a greater military presence for Japan, and I actually favor Japan moving in that direction, the manner in which Abe and the LDP have simply run roughshod over the constitution is frightening. Posters here on JT who rail against China because the communist party controls the economy, the military, and the press to implement its will, really should look more objectively at what is happening under Abe.

19 ( +21 / -2 )

I agree with JerseyBoy.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

"Abe also has promised the U.S. the bills would pass in parliament by this summer."

What America actually needs is some tough love - a friend that says your militarization is out of control and we want no part of it. To just go along with whatever the US elites want is just rewarding bad behavior.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

I've never seen protests like these in Japan. Could it be that Abe has let things get to a lose-lose point?

If he backs down, it may well prove to the Japanese people that they can force a change if enough of them get together.

If he forces this vote through, it may well prove to the Japanese people that their government doesn't have their best interests at heart.

Even if he wins this vote, it may be that he has destroyed the Japanese public's notorious apathy toward who rules them.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

I`m pretty sure most people in the world have great respect and admiration for the Japanese people precisely because they are NOT a "normal country".

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Abe is forcing Collective Defense which a majority of the people do not want, Abe is forcing Nuclear Power which a majority of the people do not want, Abe is forcing increases in the Consumption Tax which a majority of the people do not want. When is Abe going to do something that a majority of the people want?

9 ( +9 / -0 )

They should have just voted to amend the constitution but this is the quick way out. Now it sets the precedent that the constitution is just a piece of paper that America written for Japan. The funny thing is, America is agreeing with this strategy. Hahahahhahahaha. I guess it takes one to know one.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I've supported the security bill to be passed in order to strengthen the deterrent force. The 70-year history of peace in Japan has much relied on the deterrent of Japan-US Security Treaty. I'd really like to ask the demonstrators how they think to protect Japan, only with Japan's defense force?

What's the difference between "Defense force and military force which is prohibited under the Consitution? Their claim is not totally realistic.

Radical activiests call the bill as 'War Bill'. None of Japanese want war any more. The media tend to report focusing on those radical activists, and as a result, reported biassedly. Not majority of people would oppose the security bill.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

@sakura3110,

Let's be clear about the issue here. The conservatives in the LDP have resented the U.S. initiated Constitution from the day it was put into place. On a number of fronts. They have argued many of the principle and provisions of the Constitution are not reflective of Japanese culture and/or now constrain Japan as a sovereign nation.

These people HATE Article 9. Regardless of the lip service they pay to the idea of a peaceful Japan, they despise the limits it places on Japan militarily which they believe is unjust, particularly 70 years after the war.

So, of course, the right way forward would be to push to amend the Constitution. However, that is far too difficult and cumbersome for these conservatives. So, what they have done is do an end run around the Constitution to get what they want. Unconstitutionally, in my view.

So, to be clear, there are two issues: the actual principles enshrined in Article 9, and the manner in which they are changed/sidestepped.

Regardless of what you believe regarding changing the principles enshrine in Article 9, the moment a government can just "reinterpret" the Constitution to suit its goal is the moment that a country becomes untethered from the rule of law. And that will either lead to tyranny or anarchy. If not immediately, then in the future.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

For all the scaremongering from the usual suspects, it's worth remembering that Japan’s share of regional military spending has continued to fall every year from 20% in 2010 to just below 14%.

It's hardly a swing to militarism. Read the other article on Japan stepping up help for Vietnamese maritime security. If China did not keep pushing, Japan would not need to keep strengthening its position.

No one on earth would think for one moment that China is will to respect the rights of a pacificist neighbor.

All it would see is a weak neighbor, easy able to be run over roughshod.

The SDF do great work especially when it comes to disaster relief and so on. National Service would do wonders for all those skinny hipped girlie boys and, perhaps, save them from jobs at hairdressers and department store greeters!

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

My fellow Japanese, the fight against the security bills is not over even after they are passed into laws . We can (1) file many lawsuits in different districts to block the security "laws" on the ground they violate the Constitution. (2) refuse to serve all Diet members of PM Abe's Liberal Democratic Party and those of Komeito if you operate stores, restaurants, shops, bars, medical clinics, schools, etc. Refuse to serve their spouses and children. Blacklist and boycott them. (3) vote for the opposition parties like Democratic Party of Japan, etc. at the next elections. We must make sure the opposition parties have enough members to block any bills introduced by LDP and Komeito. Do not vote for LDP or Komeito or Party for Future Generations (extremist Shintaro Ishihara). (4) publicly harass Diet members of LDP, Komeito, etc, by shouting at them at their speeches, meetings, etc. Heckle them at work, at home, every public place they go to.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

National Service would do wonders for all those skinny hipped girlie boys and, perhaps, save them from jobs at hairdressers and department store greeters!

For 70 yrs they've been getting a free ride. Time to punch-in the clock, gear up and show some responsibility for your country.

“Anyone who understands the basic principle of the constitution cannot help but oppose the legislation,”

Yeah, and anyone who understands this isn't 1945 can't help but keep abreast with regional security while playing a more active role militarily. It's time to amend the constitution, plain and simple.

Don't average japanese realize how weak japan has become?

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Abe also has promised the U.S. the bills would pass in parliament by this summer.

Which shows who really wants these bills to be passed. Japan will be made America's first line of defense aka cannon fodder.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@katsu78SEP. 16, 2015 - 09:37PM JST I've never seen protests like these in Japan. Could it be that Abe has let things get to a lose-lose point?

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

There was in Japan. 1960

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I'm with those who understand that the primary issue here is the total disregard for the constitution - the ultimate rule of law. As plenty have noted, there are rules and procedures in place to properly make this change (if you have the support) and they are just being side stepped. Of course, Abe and his minions don't have the support to legally change the constitution which is why they are pulling a page from the dictator's manual. It's really outrageous.

"Abe also has promised the U.S. the bills would pass in parliament by this summer."

This is also totally outrageous - we (the US) shouldn't have any say in this whatsoever. Just like Netanyahu shouldn't be trying to control the US congress. But this nonsense seems to have become rampant.

@Japan4life: When is Abe going to do something that a majority of the people want?

When he leaves office?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Abe is forcing Collective Defense which a majority of the people do not want,

It's something the people do not understand, hell I am willing to bet many posters here dont understand the term "collective defense". He wants collective security, but can't say it openly so he uses an ambiguous term that screws up everybody.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Forgive me to say this, democracy and freedom in Japan are dimming like candle burning at the end of the stick that attached to a nice beautiful fish tank. This bill is not the end of it though, folks. It will be a small crack that eventually renders the whole glass base to crumble. Next thing you know Japan will be involved in a war it doesn’t really know why. Army will be busy recruiting and establish bases. God bless allies, Japan will die with thee. In the end Uncle Sam will desert Japan and cozy up with China for their best interest at heart, so what is left for Japan? More like a fish falling from the broken aquarium to the floor, fluttering and holding onto its last breath, not realizing that it’s not an ocean underneath the tank

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

toshiko SEP. 17, 2015 - 04:16AM JST There was in Japan. 1960

I'm aware, toshiko, but that was a long time ago. How many people between then and now have been born, how many have died?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@katsuL I answered your question. History does not start the year people were born at one event.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Well, hopefully the unpopularity of this law shows the LDP that they will face some serious consequences if they try something like this again and attempt to force through legislation that benefits no one besides "the state"

I guess we can be thankful that it wasn't an especially harmful law that was forced through

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites