The ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday proposed that the country be allowed to use force within collective security frameworks based on U.N. Security Council resolutions.
The party made the proposal to its New Komeito ally at a meeting of their joint task force on security-related legislation, citing, for example, minesweeping of sea lanes based on a U.N. collective security framework as an area where Japan should be permitted to participate.
The two parties did not reach a conclusion as Komeito remained cautious.
Collective security is an arrangement under which the international community cooperates to punish a country that has carried out an armed attack on another.
Based on the Japanese government’s current interpretation of the constitution, Japan is banned from using force under any collective security arrangement.
If Japanese Self-Defense Forces troops were to engage in minesweeping in the Strait of Hormuz through exercising the right to collective self-defense, they would have to quit the operation once the U.N. Security Council passes a resolution to adopt a collective security arrangement for the situation and the operation begins implementation under that framework, officials from the LDP said at the meeting.
They said that the three conditions the government recently proposed for exercising of the right to collective self-defense should also be applied to the use of force for collective security.
Komeito officials sounded negative, however, saying that discussions on the matter would take a very long time.
At present, Japan prohibits itself from exercising the right to collective self-defense, and the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is aiming to remove this self-imposed ban. Abe also strongly feels that Japan should be able to take part in minesweeping operations under a U.N. collective security framework.
Abe’s private advisory panel said in a report on May 15 that it is not appropriate to interpret war-renouncing Article 9 of the constitution as prohibiting Japan’s participation in the collective security measures of the United Nations.
In talks with reporters on Friday, LDP Vice President Masahiko Komura, who chairs the LDP-Komeito task force, suggested that Japan can take part in minesweeping operations for collective security, noting that although such work is classified as involving the use of force under international law, it is totally different from armed attacks to destroy enemies.
LDP proposes allowing use of force for collective security - The Japan News
The party made the proposal to its New Komeito ally at a meeting of their joint task force on security-related legislation, citing, for example, minesweeping of sea lanes based on a U.N. collective security framework as an area where Japan should be permitted to participate.
The two parties did not reach a conclusion as Komeito remained cautious.
Collective security is an arrangement under which the international community cooperates to punish a country that has carried out an armed attack on another.
Based on the Japanese government’s current interpretation of the constitution, Japan is banned from using force under any collective security arrangement.
If Japanese Self-Defense Forces troops were to engage in minesweeping in the Strait of Hormuz through exercising the right to collective self-defense, they would have to quit the operation once the U.N. Security Council passes a resolution to adopt a collective security arrangement for the situation and the operation begins implementation under that framework, officials from the LDP said at the meeting.
They said that the three conditions the government recently proposed for exercising of the right to collective self-defense should also be applied to the use of force for collective security.
Komeito officials sounded negative, however, saying that discussions on the matter would take a very long time.
At present, Japan prohibits itself from exercising the right to collective self-defense, and the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is aiming to remove this self-imposed ban. Abe also strongly feels that Japan should be able to take part in minesweeping operations under a U.N. collective security framework.
Abe’s private advisory panel said in a report on May 15 that it is not appropriate to interpret war-renouncing Article 9 of the constitution as prohibiting Japan’s participation in the collective security measures of the United Nations.
In talks with reporters on Friday, LDP Vice President Masahiko Komura, who chairs the LDP-Komeito task force, suggested that Japan can take part in minesweeping operations for collective security, noting that although such work is classified as involving the use of force under international law, it is totally different from armed attacks to destroy enemies.
LDP proposes allowing use of force for collective security - The Japan News
