Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2015 January 14 - 20 [POLITICS]

Gov’t considers gaining rapid Cabinet approval over phone to dispatch SDF

The government is considering ways to receive Cabinet approval over the phone to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces to swiftly deal with so-called “gray zone” situations which fall short of armed attacks against Japan.

In the guise of “emergencies”, it could expand the prime minister’s exclusive right to implement executive decisions.

The SDF Act requires the Cabinet to hold a meeting with all ministers attending before ordering the SDF to go into action when Japan is under attack.

Regarding issues in need of a quick response, the Cabinet occasionally skips the process of holding a meeting and makes a decision by obtaining each minister’s endorsement based on information made available.

The government has now started discussing procedures to gain verbal consent from ministers over the phone without having to convene a Cabinet meeting.

The government envisages as “gray zone” situations an unidentified armed group disguised as fishermen landing on a Japanese remote island or a foreign warship entering Japanese territorial waters.

If such situations do occur, the government should diplomatically respond and make every possible effort to peacefully resolve the tension. Rapid mobilization of the SDF will only escalate the situation and undermine the spirit of Article 9 of the Constitution.