LDP draft action plan calls for wartime legislation

In its draft 2002 action policy published on January 8, the Liberal Democratic Party calls for the enactment of wartime legislation, along with a call for a constitutional revision. The new policy is expected to be formally adopted at the LDP annual convention on January 18.

Referring to the September terrorist incident in the U.S. and the unidentified ship incident off Amami Oshima Island in southern Japan, the draft argues that it is extremely urgent for Japan to be fully prepared for emergencies.

The LDP draft action policy calls for vigorously pressing forward with a campaign to establish measures to cope with possible terrorism, such as hijackings, biochemical attacks, and cyber attacks, by enacting questionable laws.

On the issue of a constitutional revision, the draft maintains that the Research Committee on the Constitution of both houses of the Diet have discussed this issue over the past two years, and that in public opinion polls those in favor of the constitutional revision have increased to be over half of the public, suggesting a certain growth of public support for its revision.

Citing a high support rate for the Koizumi Cabinet, the draft said that now is a golden opportunity to bring these year-long schemes into reality.

Concerning the next ordinary Diet session to be convened on January 21, Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro on the same day said:

"The government will submit defense-related bills, including wartime legislation, to the Diet because Japan must be ready to take comprehensive measures to cope with emergencies, through such steps as defense operations, territorial guard, counter-measures against terrorists, and anti-disaster measures."
Each of these bills will be submitted to the Diet for approval as soon as agreements are reached between the government and the ruling parties, Koizumi said. (end)