Abe's Panel to Set 6 Conditions for Collective Self-Defense

Tokyo, May 11 (Jiji Press)--Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's private advisory panel will propose six conditions for Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense, including parliamentary approval, informed sources said Sunday. In its report to be released this week, the panel will call for a change in the government's interpretation of the constitution to allow the Japanese self-defense forces to fight for other countries, saying Japan cannot cope with the changing regional security environment with the current interpretation that exercising the collective self-defense right is unconstitutional. As soon as receiving the report, Abe will hold a press conference to explain his government's basic views. Natsuo Yamaguchi, head of New Komeito, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's coalition partner, will also show his opinion. Yamaguchi has been opposed to altering the interpretation and granting the right. In line with the report, the Abe government will decide to change the interpretation at a cabinet meeting and his LDP will head into talks with New Komeito for alignment of the ruling camp's opinion. According to the sources, the panel report will say Article 9 of the constitution does not ban the use of force for self-defense regardless of the action being carried out in an "individual" or a "collective" manner. Providing the collective self-defense right to Japan is expected to improve deterrence to prevent armed conflicts and help the nation reduce military equipment, the report will note. The report will demand exercise of the right be allowed only when a country with close relations with Japan is attacked, it is expected that no counteraction will pose a grave threat to Japan's national security, and when Japan receives an explicit request for help from the country under attack. It will also say that the prime minister should make a decision through comprehensive considerations and that the government should obtain, if necessary, a third country's permission for SDF ships' navigation in its waters. Advance Diet approval should be basically be obtained for collective defense actions, but retrospective approval will be allowed in case of emergencies, the report will say. The report will also urge the government to change its relevant constitutional interpretations and take other measures to establish a legal framework concerning collective security and the so-called "gray-area" developments, which threaten Japan's security but do not require the use of force. The report will specifically call for amendments to laws on the SDF, measures to cope with armed attack situations, measures for Japan's peace and safety, and on cooperation for U.N. peacekeeping operations. These laws need to be revised to enable Japan to defend U.S. warships that are exercising the right to collective self-defense in contingencies in nearby regions, sweep mines in international sea lanes, and deal with a foreign submarine that does not follow a request for leaving Japanese waters, the report will point out. Though the report was initially expected to be submitted to Abe on Tuesday, the submission would be delayed due to the LDP's unfinished work to pave the way for the negotiations with New Komeito. END