Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO3121
2007-07-09 07:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - JAPAN'S CONSTITUTIONAL
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UNCLAS TOKYO 003121
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - JAPAN'S CONSTITUTIONAL
LIMITS ON USE OF ARMED FORCE
LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers front-paged TV
debates on Sunday among political leaders ahead of the
Upper House election on July 29.
UNCLAS TOKYO 003121
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - JAPAN'S CONSTITUTIONAL
LIMITS ON USE OF ARMED FORCE
LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers front-paged TV
debates on Sunday among political leaders ahead of the
Upper House election on July 29.
1. "GOJ Should Deepen Discussion on Collective Defense"
The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized
(7/9): "A GOJ panel has worked out a course of action
to enable Japan to exercise its right to collective
defense. Further discussions are necessary to clarify
that course of action. Experts on the panel largely
agreed that the GOJ's current interpretation of the
Constitution, which holds that the nation possesses the
right to collective defense but cannot exercise it,
should be changed. This view is quite reasonable....
The experts noted that there are limits to what can be
done via exercising Japan's right to individual defense
based on the provisions concerning the use of arms for
protection stipulated in Article 95 of the Self-Defense
Forces Law.... The protection of US ships and the
interception of ballistic missiles are issues that
affect the foundation of the US-Japan alliance. If
Japan were to sit back and do nothing during an attack
on the US due to constitutional restrictions, the
alliance would fall apart. Exercising the right to
collective defense, which is recognized by the UN
Charter, would be a natural response in such
circumstances."
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - JAPAN'S CONSTITUTIONAL
LIMITS ON USE OF ARMED FORCE
LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers front-paged TV
debates on Sunday among political leaders ahead of the
Upper House election on July 29.
1. "GOJ Should Deepen Discussion on Collective Defense"
The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized
(7/9): "A GOJ panel has worked out a course of action
to enable Japan to exercise its right to collective
defense. Further discussions are necessary to clarify
that course of action. Experts on the panel largely
agreed that the GOJ's current interpretation of the
Constitution, which holds that the nation possesses the
right to collective defense but cannot exercise it,
should be changed. This view is quite reasonable....
The experts noted that there are limits to what can be
done via exercising Japan's right to individual defense
based on the provisions concerning the use of arms for
protection stipulated in Article 95 of the Self-Defense
Forces Law.... The protection of US ships and the
interception of ballistic missiles are issues that
affect the foundation of the US-Japan alliance. If
Japan were to sit back and do nothing during an attack
on the US due to constitutional restrictions, the
alliance would fall apart. Exercising the right to
collective defense, which is recognized by the UN
Charter, would be a natural response in such
circumstances."
SCHIEFFER