politics

Abe aims for constitution change in bid for extended term

21 Comments
By Tetsushi Kajimoto and Linda Sieg

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21 Comments
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The man is on a bender!

12 ( +13 / -1 )

It's up to the Japanese people to decide considering the majority of people are against the reform I think. This guy is literally saying he's going to do it and is making it a big part of his campaign so if people continue to vote LDP then they can simply say the public is on board and to be honest the Japanese people deserve it when it gets to that point.

It reminds me of that old episode of the Simpsons Halloween where the aliens decide to run for president and promise that they will enslave humanity and mock the people saying "what are you going to do, vote for a 3rd party? Hahaha!", and in the end people vote for the aliens and ensure their fate.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Doesn't this muppet have anything better to waste our taxes on??

It's up to the Japanese people to decide considering the majority of people are against the reform I think. This guy is literally saying he's going to do it and is making it a big part of his campaign so if people continue to vote LDP then they can simply say the public is on board and to be honest the Japanese people deserve it when it gets to that point.

exactly! Well said.

It reminds me of that old episode of the Simpsons Halloween where the aliens decide to run for president and promise that they will enslave humanity and mock the people saying "what are you going to do, vote for a 3rd party? Hahaha!", and in the end people vote for the aliens and ensure their fate.

Absolutely! But in Japan's case, there isn't even a SECOND party much less a third.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

conservatives who see the U.S.-drafted constitution as a humiliating reminder of defeat in World War Two

Yes, that is exactly what it is and Japan's sentence for the atrocities they committed in the first half of last century has not been completed yet. As much as the Japanese hate the US military shield opposed on them, if it was removed Japan would be swatted by China and Russia within a fortnight. These two countries have not forgotten or forgiven Japan for their imperial rule if Asia. Japan should be very careful about what they wish for. They might get a lot more than they bargained for.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

Propaganda much? Please let this happen. Maybe once and for all, true contrition will take place.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

 As much as the Japanese hate the US military shield opposed on them, if it was removed Japan would be swatted by China and Russia within a fortnight.

I think otherwise. If US pulls out of Japan, it means one less obstacle holding back Japan from being friendly to Russia and China. Japan is sufficiently strong enough to hold its own (assuming there is not full blown war). Russia and China would definitely see opportunity in close ties with Japan in absence of US.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Only good thing of this is China will takeover japan, and normal Japanese will have access to a 1.2billion market.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

PM Abe is passionate about the Nation, his emotion is showing, which is great to see. AND he is very tough too, will never back down.

Do your best for Japan PM Abe!!

-17 ( +2 / -19 )

My hope and wish in a perfect world...

Japan stays pacifist, has little in the means of military because it doesn’t need it.

My current reality...

Japan has powerful enemies to the north and west that regularly threaten it. I know for a fact that had Japan not had America in its corner, things would have already escalated.

Japan has to be able to DEFEND ITSELF!

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

@theosrsoniamnow - Japan has to be able to DEFEND ITSELF!

What are you talking about? Japan can defend itself under the current constitution. However, it can not attack another country. This is the point Abe wants changed. This makes it a very dangerous change for all of Asia. It will be considered an act of aggression by both China and Russia. Japan may very well have a well equipped military, but they will stand no chance against the hundreds of millions of soldiers waiting for a chance to extract some revenge on Japan for their imperial rule last century.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

With all the plutonium in the country, ....but then US and even Sweden changed a lot recently. Well, history has a way of repeating itself.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Do the hustle

What am I talking about? Obviously you cannot win a battle where all you can do is defend yourself and depend on America. I am talking about actual scenerios.

Japans current stance is based on America being its protector. This constitution wouldnt have been drawn up that way had Japan been a normal country, not one who had just lost a war and was being occupied.

So, if Japan doesn’t change its constitution do you suggest that China and Russia will relent and look towards peace, not inch closer and not threaten Japan? If so, I am all for this way.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I wonder where the first shot is going to be, Russia, in search of a return of its 4 islands, or China trying to protect its shipping lanes? A third option is to go for Japan’s kidnapped people in North Korea. Wherever the shots are fired, I don’t see peaceful purposes in changing the constitution.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The US State Department wrote that constitution, any changes to it moving forward should require US State Department approval. I don't care how long it's been.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Not long ago, talking about changing the Article 9 of the Constitution was a taboo. Now it is openly discussed without pacifist hysteria, thanks to Chinese expansionism and N.Korean nuclear and missiles threats. Overwhelming majority believes Japanese Defense Force is legitimate even the Constitution (9.2) says otherwise.

Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.

In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

Japanese Constitution Article 9: 1-2

Because the support for this article is still strong, particularly with Komeito Party, Abe came up with an idea of adding a new section that legitimize JDF in words without changing the existing sections that renounce military forces.

Ishiba criticizes Abe's position, saying that it is more confusing and trying to fool the people. Ishiba, instead, proposes dropping the 9.2 and openly tell the people that having defense forces is an internationally recognized rights of independent nations.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Do the hustleSep. 10  08:09 pm JST

@theosrsoniamnow - Japan has to be able to DEFEND ITSELF!

What are you talking about? Japan can defend itself under the current constitution. However, it can not attack another country. This is the point Abe wants changed. 

Wrong. Abe wants the second part of Article 9 amended so a contradiction doesn't exist. The constitution currently not only does not recognize but even stipulates that the JSDF can not even exist. For that reason everything that involves the JSDF ends up in perpetual constitutional debate. This needs to be amended.

Who is talking about "attacking another country" besides you?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They were able to stretch and manipulate the constitution enough to have an army. With changes they'll stretch it again to mean pre-emptive defence. With that I'd expect a skirmish in the weeks that follow

0 ( +1 / -1 )

With America itching to go for Japan’s exposed jugular on trade, things are about to get very interesting. Once anathema, constitutional revision looks to be just a matter of time as the war generation’s influence dwindles and America refuses to indulge Japan’s continuing intransigence on trade and forces it to make choices that will very likely result in some serious animus for upsetting Japan’s carefully constructed house of cards.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Abe needs to prioritize his plans. He promised so many things, that is not a good sign. The No 1 priority is natural disaster prevention. It is imminent and real. It seems that Japan is entering active period of disasters, based on the past a few years experiences. Coupled with Olympics 2020, it is time to spend money on infrastructure, transportation, water, hospitals, and to make sure that in the next 10 years, Japanese people can stand up against any record breaking disasters. Japan must be smart again, no other choices.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

With the change of the constitution from pacifist to free to openly be aggressive, what nick-name are we going to have for Japanese? There’s too much superiority mindedness in Japan to not be aggressive when things don’t go their way. This constitution must not change. After WWI Germany came back to be aggressor again. Will Japan repeat this mistake with a constitution change? I hope not.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

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