By Chung Min-uck
Seoul urged Japan, Thursday, to "dispel doubts and concerns shared by its neighboring countries" following the country's move to exercise its right to collective self-defense.
"We reiterated that there should be a request from us or our consent when it comes to issues related to security on the Korean Peninsula and our national interests," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Tai-young in a statement. "The government will closely monitor the situation and plans to take any necessary action."
Seoul long stuck to the stance that Japan's exercise of collective self-defense should not extend to Japanese troops landing on Korean territory without its approval.
Prompted by a United States' endorsement, Tokyo is seeking to reinterpret Article 9 of its Constitution that says Japan forever renounces the use of force as a means of settling international disputes, unless the country comes under attack.
The provision long prevented the world's No. 3 economic power from engaging in overseas conflicts in third countries.
But Japan's right-wing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Thursday his intention to reinterpret the article which will permit Japan to exercise the U.N.-bestowed right of collective defense.
Under the right, Japan can participate in overseas conflicts if one of its allies is under attack.
In a press conference, Abe stressed his government will undertake necessary steps to amend the current interpretation of the article while stressing the move will not translate into Japan's self-defense forces "participating in third country's war for the use of armed forces."
The announcement came after Abe received a report from his private Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for Security which suggested lifting Japan's self-imposed ban on exercising the right to "the minimum extent necessary."
Last month, Washington said it "welcomes and supports Japan's consideration for exercising the right of collective self-defense."
The U.S. considers Japan as the regional cornerstone in handling security issues including taming North Korea's nuclear threat and containing China's growing military might.
But the two Koreas and China have been wary of Japan's moves in light of its past militarism.
Japan ruled the Korean Peninsula as a colony from 1910-45 and controlled much of China during World War II.
"We know that the Japanese leader has taken some unprecedented moves in the field of the military," China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters during a regular press briefing, Thursday. "Due to the negative direction on historical issues that have been arising in Japan, Asian countries, including China, and the international community, we have full reason to be highly vigilant over Japan's true intention and its future development."
Hua added China would "urge Japan to face up and reflect on history and respect the security concerns of countries in the region and play a constructive role in upholding regional peace and stability."
Meanwhile, Abe's controversial step towards military normalization is facing challenges from within as well.
The move is forcing a split with his ruling party's coalition partner, New Komeito, without whom Abe does not have an outright majority in the upper house of parliament.
Japanese voters are also lukewarm to the idea.
A poll of more than 2,000 adults nationwide showed 63 percent oppose the concept of collective defense, according to Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper.
The figure was up from 56 percent last year.
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| Shinzo Abe |
"We reiterated that there should be a request from us or our consent when it comes to issues related to security on the Korean Peninsula and our national interests," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Tai-young in a statement. "The government will closely monitor the situation and plans to take any necessary action."
Seoul long stuck to the stance that Japan's exercise of collective self-defense should not extend to Japanese troops landing on Korean territory without its approval.
Prompted by a United States' endorsement, Tokyo is seeking to reinterpret Article 9 of its Constitution that says Japan forever renounces the use of force as a means of settling international disputes, unless the country comes under attack.
The provision long prevented the world's No. 3 economic power from engaging in overseas conflicts in third countries.
But Japan's right-wing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Thursday his intention to reinterpret the article which will permit Japan to exercise the U.N.-bestowed right of collective defense.
Under the right, Japan can participate in overseas conflicts if one of its allies is under attack.
In a press conference, Abe stressed his government will undertake necessary steps to amend the current interpretation of the article while stressing the move will not translate into Japan's self-defense forces "participating in third country's war for the use of armed forces."
The announcement came after Abe received a report from his private Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for Security which suggested lifting Japan's self-imposed ban on exercising the right to "the minimum extent necessary."
Last month, Washington said it "welcomes and supports Japan's consideration for exercising the right of collective self-defense."
The U.S. considers Japan as the regional cornerstone in handling security issues including taming North Korea's nuclear threat and containing China's growing military might.
But the two Koreas and China have been wary of Japan's moves in light of its past militarism.
Japan ruled the Korean Peninsula as a colony from 1910-45 and controlled much of China during World War II.
"We know that the Japanese leader has taken some unprecedented moves in the field of the military," China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters during a regular press briefing, Thursday. "Due to the negative direction on historical issues that have been arising in Japan, Asian countries, including China, and the international community, we have full reason to be highly vigilant over Japan's true intention and its future development."
Hua added China would "urge Japan to face up and reflect on history and respect the security concerns of countries in the region and play a constructive role in upholding regional peace and stability."
Meanwhile, Abe's controversial step towards military normalization is facing challenges from within as well.
The move is forcing a split with his ruling party's coalition partner, New Komeito, without whom Abe does not have an outright majority in the upper house of parliament.
Japanese voters are also lukewarm to the idea.
A poll of more than 2,000 adults nationwide showed 63 percent oppose the concept of collective defense, according to Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper.
The figure was up from 56 percent last year.
