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

Defense Ministry bill passes through Lower House

The House of Representatives on November 30 passed a "Defense Ministry" bill with the majority approval of the Liberal Democratic, Komei, Democratic, and People's New parties. The Japanese Communist and Social Democratic parties voted against.

This bill will upgrade the Defense Agency into a ministry and assign Self-Defense Forces to carry out overseas operations as its principal task, violating the Constitution by requiring the SDF to be dispatched abroad as its main mission for the first time since its foundation.

JCP representative Akamine Seiken at the Plenary Session expressed opposition to the bill, pointing out that the SDF in Iraq has been engaged in activities in support of the U.S. forces and that by making such activities as its principal task, "the SDF will become 'U.S.-support forces' that will run counter to the world's order for peace."

Akamine also stressed that upgrading the Defense Agency to a ministry is aimed at strengthening the setup that will push ahead with the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan and other military policies in disregard of residents concerned.

Earlier in the day at a Lower House Security Committee meeting, referring to successive governments' assertion that the SDF is not against the Constitution since it is the minimum force necessary for self-defense, Akamine asked if the successive governments have limited the SDF mission solely to "national defense" in order to maintain this interpretation of the Constitution.

In reply, Defense Agency Director General Kyuma Fumio said, "Basically, that is right."

The JCP representative asked how the government can mandate the SDF overseas operations as the its primary task without changing the constitutional interpretation.

Kyuma stated that the SDF has already carried out overseas activities, but provided no appropriate explanation regarding this constitutional question.

Akamine pointed out that in light of successive governments' explanations, the military capability of the SDF will substantially exceed the "minimum force level necessary for self-defense" by upgrading its organization and equipment as well as conducting operations and exercises to meet its new major tasks abroad.

Pointing out that SDF will assume tasks to support U.S. forces abroad as it has carried out in Iraq, Akamine stated, "How extraordinary it is to make support for foreign forces its raison d'etre!"
- Akahata, December 1, 2006





Copyright (c) Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. All right reserved.
info@japan-press.co.jp