TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - JAPAN'S CONSTITUTIONAL

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