Japan ends pacifist stance

[John Scott]

Japan passed into law yesterday rules for revising the country’s pacifist constitution for the first time in 60 years, a central goal of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The upper house of parliament approved the law a month after it passed through the lower house.

The law, which will be enacted in 2010, sets procedures for a national referendum should a constitutional amendment pass both chambers of parliament by a two-thirds vote.

The law reflects Abe’s aim to allow Japan to assert itself militarily for the first time since the end of the Second World War. The 1947 document, written by US occupation forces after Japan’s defeat, renounces war as a sovereign right and forbids military forces.

“We now have a legal framework for the procedures of revising the constitution,” Abe said at his official residence. “It’s important to debate this broadly and deeply in a calm environment.”

Japan maintains a 240000-strong Self-Defence Force that courts have ruled is legal over the objection of pacifist groups.

Abe, Japan’s first prime minister born after the war, says the constitution is outdated as it forbids the right of collective self-defence — to defend an ally that is attacked — in a nuclear age riven by international terrorism.

In a statement on May 3, the 60th anniversary of the document’s adoption, Abe called for “a bold review of the postwar regime all the way back to its origins and an in-depth discussion of the constitution” which had become “incapable of adapting to the great changes taking place”.

http://www.businessday.co.za/article...?ID=BD4A462945

[Ferre]

Japan is one of the very few countries on earth that are still willing to support the US administration(s) in their queeste for global domination, They need to change their constitution in order for them to 'legally' join the US in future illegal invasions. North Korea is only used as an excuse to scare the Japanese people enough to get their support for those changes but in the end it's just a sign of how desperate the USA has become to find allies for their wars. Funny how this news comes after a series of diplomatic journeys by Bush admin people to Japan and azia the past months.

[StupidScript]

Japan is one of the very few countries on earth that are still willing to support the US administration

Very astute, Ferre. From an article by Reuters:

The United States failed to win the support of key allies in the Group of Seven over World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz's leadership, with only Japan standing by Washington, a bank board source said on Tuesday.

Abandoned by Canada ... will Bush ever live it down?

[Maikunari]

Did Koizumi join the Carlyle Group after he left office or something?

[GreekCrusader]

Japanese people are known to be extremists. Not all though, but i m worried will they want to have their ambitions to grow further.

[John Scott]

Originally Posted by GreekCrusader

Japanese people are known to be extremists.

Um, what?

[KeithCash]

Originally Posted by John Scott

Um, what?

In world war II, history shows a small Island country, that was this close, to controlling the oceans of the pacific and the world

Pretty Extreme to me.

Osu!

[GreekCrusader]

What i mean is Japanese politicians usually thinks that their land has scarce resources and may try to control other people's land in the past

[John Scott]

Originally Posted by GreekCrusader

What i mean is Japanese politicians usually thinks that their land has scarce resources and may try to control other people's land in the past

In the very far past.

[Costin Trifan]

@GreekCrusader:
Have you read "Shogun" recently? hehee

I'm just joking here, man! no offence, please

[Taylor Hewitt]

well you know what they say about black people!

[GreekCrusader]

What is "Shogun" all about? Pls share

[Costin Trifan]

Shogun is a book I sincerely recommend you to read
You can find it on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Shogun-James-C.../dp/0440178002

I love this book