Japan moves closer to ending military restraints

/Courtesy of Twitter

By Lee Han-soo

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s major victory in the upper house election on Monday has paved the way for him to change constraints on the Japanese military.

Winning a majority of the 121 seats up for grabs, the victory is seen as approval for his economic policies.

But the issue of removing constraints on the Japanese military has become a hot topic for neighboring countries.

Under Article 9, also known as “the pacifism clause,” which the U.S. introduced after Japan lost World War II, bans Japan from fighting wars abroad.

Abe said it was too early to talk about the constitutional change but he has argued strongly for such a move.

The issue has been controversial in Japan because China’s actions in the South China Sea have pushed support for Article 9 to be amended.

Abe now has a majority in the upper and lower house of the Japanese National Diet, which should enable him to make the change.

“Constitutional change is decided after the constitutional advisory board discusses whether to approve the article’s amendment,” Abe said during a TV interview.

“After it is deemed necessary, there will be a national vote on whether the citizens agree on the change.”