Panel seeks changes to view on collective defense, arms export ban+

TOKYO, Aug. 4 Kyodo -
A panel of experts reviewing Japan's defense policy called Tuesday for a change
in the interpretation of the pacifist Constitution to ensure Tokyo has the
right to exercise collective self-defense as well as easing the country's ban
on weapons exports.

The group led by Tsunehisa Katsumata, chairman of Tokyo Electric Power Co.,
also said in a report presented to Prime Minister Taro Aso that the government
should prepare necessary legislation to expand Japan's participation in United
Nations-sponsored peacekeeping operations.
The recommendations by the nine experts are expected to serve as a basis for
the updated National Defense Program Guidelines that will define the country's
basic security policy between fiscal 2010 and 2014. The government is scheduled
to adopt the new defense guidelines by the year-end.
Aso said upon receiving the report that the panel ''indicated what Japan should
do to defend itself and ensure the security of the world amid changes in the
global security environment'' and that the government will heed the
recommendations in renewing the current defense guidelines compiled in 2004.
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told a press conference that he hopes the
document will invigorate discussions on security matters in Japan.
Katsumata told reporters he believes Japan should play a more proactive role in
the area of security and that he expects the report to trigger a ''national
debate.''
However, it is unclear whether the panel's views will be reflected in the
compilation of the new guidelines as the main opposition Democratic Party of
Japan could wrest power from the ruling camp after the Aug. 30 general
election.
Some DPJ members who used to belong to the Social Democratic Party are opposed
to a hawkish stance in defense policy and the DPJ could form a coalition
government with the SDP, which opposes revising the war-renouncing Article 9 of
the Constitution.
DPJ leader Yukio Hatoyama said in a news conference Tuesday that if his party
takes power, it will review discussions by the panel whose members were picked
by the government led by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The DPJ will also
contemplate its basic stance on defense matters such as arms exports and
collective self-defense.
Katsumata said he wants the DPJ to address the security issue squarely because
''ill-considered remarks'' from DPJ politicians ''could negatively affect
Japan's security.''
The TEPCO chairman added that the panel members shared the view that Article 9
should not be revised.
The experts called on the government to redefine its current exclusively
defense-oriented posture and exert its right to collective self-defense by
enabling Japanese forces to intercept ballistic missiles targeted at the United
States and protect American vessels deployed for responding to possible missile
launches on the high seas.
The LDP headed by Aso also says in its policy platform that it aims to
implement necessary measures to enable Japan to shoot down missiles flying to
the United States.
''Although we Japanese continue chanting our 'defense-only' slogan, the
ever-changing world security environment that involves transnational threats is
beyond the scope of our assumptions,'' the report said.
The experts said, however, Japan should not cause an ''unnecessary arms race''
or carry out preemptive attacks that are banned under the Constitution.
The panel also said Japan's prohibition of weapons exports except for joint
development and production with the United States has prevented Tokyo from
''contributing to international efforts to counter terrorism'' and raised
concern about Japan's ''access to state-of-the-art technologies and Japan-U.S.
defense cooperation.''
The report said ''excessive restrictions'' on arms exports by domestic
companies are not appropriate as sound development of the defense industry
should form part of Japan's security policy. It suggested Japanese firms be
allowed to take part in international projects on research, development and
production of weapons.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said Japan should explore the
possibility of setting new guidelines on arms exports while maintaining the
basic stance that it will strive to avoid international conflicts as a
''peaceful nation.''
As for U.N. peacekeeping operations, the group called for a proactive role for
Japan's Self-Defense Forces.
It suggested that the government review existing rules on the use of weapons
and craft permanent legislation to define what Japanese personnel can do in
such missions and how the country's parliament should be involved in
sanctioning their deployment.
The panel pointed out that the U.S. military presence could be overshadowed by
increased burdens stemming from its war on terror and the global economic
crisis, and the nation's military power ''has been relatively diminished with
the rise of emerging countries such as China and India.''
The experts urged Tokyo to work out ''multilayered security strategies'' based
on its own efforts to ensure security and cooperation with the United States as
well as partners in the Asia-Pacific region such as South Korea and Australia.
==Kyodo