Japan took a step away Tuesday from an American-drafted constitution that has long kept its military shackled, approving a plan to allow greater use of a force that was vanquished at the end of World War II.
Related Stories
In one of the biggest changes to Japanese security policy since the war, the ruling coalition gave approval to reinterpret the constitution on military affairs. It now awaits endorsement — a formality — by the Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has made raising the country's military profile a cornerstone of his nationalist policies.
The move will allow the military to defend other nations in what is known as "collective self-defense."
Previous governments have said that Japan's war-renouncing constitution limits the use of force to defending Japan.
Abe, who has pushed hard for the change, cites a deteriorating security environment, notably China's military rise and North Korea's missile and nuclear threats.
link.
No comments:
Post a Comment