September 9, 2011
The DPJ policy chief Maehara Seiji said that Japan needs to ease restrictions on the Self-Defense Forces’ use of weapons in overseas operations on September 7 in Washington D.C.
“The SDF should be able to defend other nations’ troops operating with the possibility of imminent and unlawful infringement,” said Maehara, advocating the need for the SDF to use weapons to counter attacks on foreign troops.
At present, the government allows the SDF to use weapons only for their self-defense in overseas operations.
Maehara also said that Japan’s ban on weapons exports should be reviewed in order to be able to fully participate in international joint arms development.
Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo, in a TV program aired on September 8, criticized Maehara’s remarks as “very dangerous.”
He warned that Maehara’s proposal would allow the SDF to jointly use force with other countries’ troops, and thus violate Article 9 of the Constitution. It would pave the way for joint military actions by Japan and U.S. as acts of collective self-defense, he said.
“The SDF should be able to defend other nations’ troops operating with the possibility of imminent and unlawful infringement,” said Maehara, advocating the need for the SDF to use weapons to counter attacks on foreign troops.
At present, the government allows the SDF to use weapons only for their self-defense in overseas operations.
Maehara also said that Japan’s ban on weapons exports should be reviewed in order to be able to fully participate in international joint arms development.
Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo, in a TV program aired on September 8, criticized Maehara’s remarks as “very dangerous.”
He warned that Maehara’s proposal would allow the SDF to jointly use force with other countries’ troops, and thus violate Article 9 of the Constitution. It would pave the way for joint military actions by Japan and U.S. as acts of collective self-defense, he said.
