Oh man, this is getting interesting.... 
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OKYO (Jiji Press) — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday that his country will never introduce a military conscription system, regardless of changes in the security environment.
“As military conscription clearly represents a violation of the Constitution, it’s impossible for Japan to introduce such a system,” Abe told a meeting of the House of Councillors special committee on national security legislation.
“Even if the prime minister or the government changes, children will never be taken as soldiers,” he said.
A draft on constitutional amendments by his ruling Liberal Democratic Party rejects the introduction of a conscription system, Abe said.
Defending national security bills designed to allow Japan to exercise the right of collective self-defense, Abe said they are aimed at strengthening the country’s deterrent power to protect its citizens. Saying the bills will contribute to protecting the lives of the public, the prime minister stressed that they are not “war legislation,” as opposition parties describe them.
The upper house began debating the security bills Monday after the House of Representatives approved them on July 16.
Also at the upper house committee meeting, Abe said he reprimanded Yosuke Isozaki by phone after the special adviser to the prime minister said during a speech on Sunday that the legal stability of the security bills did not matter.
Abe told the meeting that one should refrain from making remarks that could invite suspicions.
With this point in mind, Isozaki should fulfill his duties, Abe said, dismissing a call by opposition parties to replace him. In a Twitter posting, Isozaki said he did not mean to deny the importance of the bills’ legal stability.
The major opposition Democratic Party of Japan reiterated its demand that Isozaki be summoned to the upper house committee to speak about his controversial remarks. But the LDP insisted that it would be enough if he offers an apology at the committee’s board.
Abe denies possibility of Japan introducing military conscription - The Japan News
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OKYO (Jiji Press) — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday that his country will never introduce a military conscription system, regardless of changes in the security environment.
“As military conscription clearly represents a violation of the Constitution, it’s impossible for Japan to introduce such a system,” Abe told a meeting of the House of Councillors special committee on national security legislation.
“Even if the prime minister or the government changes, children will never be taken as soldiers,” he said.
A draft on constitutional amendments by his ruling Liberal Democratic Party rejects the introduction of a conscription system, Abe said.
Defending national security bills designed to allow Japan to exercise the right of collective self-defense, Abe said they are aimed at strengthening the country’s deterrent power to protect its citizens. Saying the bills will contribute to protecting the lives of the public, the prime minister stressed that they are not “war legislation,” as opposition parties describe them.
The upper house began debating the security bills Monday after the House of Representatives approved them on July 16.
Also at the upper house committee meeting, Abe said he reprimanded Yosuke Isozaki by phone after the special adviser to the prime minister said during a speech on Sunday that the legal stability of the security bills did not matter.
Abe told the meeting that one should refrain from making remarks that could invite suspicions.
With this point in mind, Isozaki should fulfill his duties, Abe said, dismissing a call by opposition parties to replace him. In a Twitter posting, Isozaki said he did not mean to deny the importance of the bills’ legal stability.
The major opposition Democratic Party of Japan reiterated its demand that Isozaki be summoned to the upper house committee to speak about his controversial remarks. But the LDP insisted that it would be enough if he offers an apology at the committee’s board.
Abe denies possibility of Japan introducing military conscription - The Japan News
