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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

DPJ leader calls for constitutional revision to broaden areas of Japan's responsibility for sea-lanes defense

Maehara Seiji, president of the Democratic Party of Japan, spoke on his foreign and security policy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington D.C. on December 8 and said constitutional revision is necessary for Japan to do its part to defend sea-lanes beyond 1,000 nautical miles.

He stated this as he outlined the DPJ's policy. This hawkish statement will face criticism from Japan's neighboring countries.

When he took office as Democratic Party president in September, Maehara publicly stated his belief that paragraph two of the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution be replaced by a provision establishing the right of self-defense. However, there is more to his Washington speech concerning maritime defense of crude oil transports from the Middle East, because it can be taken as a signal to the United States that Japan will be ready to use force outside of Japan.

He also gave the view that the Japan-U.S. military alliance is absolutely necessary, and called for strengthening of the bilateral alliance. In this context, he referred to China as becoming a real threat, economically as well as militarily, revealing his hostile view of China.

On the question of the U.S. military realignment, Maehara stated that the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty should be re-defined if it is necessary to realign and strengthen the functions of the U.S. bases in Japan.

Maehara's speech ignores the widespread opposition by local residents and municipalities in Japan against the U.S. military realignment. The DPJ will have to face an increasing contradiction with the general public.

Maehara was to visit China after the United States.
- Akahata, December 10, 2005