Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi vowed yesterday to give Japan's military a firm legal basis by revising the pacifist post-war constitution.
"A national consensus is now being formed on the constitutional provision of [the Self-Defense Forces] following years of discussions," Koizumi said in a speech at a troop review ceremony at an Air Self-Defense Force base in Hyakuri, northeast of Tokyo.
"I will do my best to improve an environment at home and overseas in which the Self-Defense Forces can fulfill their missions in style," the prime minister said.
He made the remarks two days after his Liberal Democratic Party drafted its version of a substitute for the 1947 constitution.
The draft kept intact a paragraph of Article Nine of the US-inspired constitution, which says "the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as a means of settling international disputes."
But it cut out a paragraph which says "land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained."
Instead, the draft says: "In order to secure peace and the independence of our country as well as the security of the state and the people, military forces for self-defense shall be maintained with the prime minister of the cabinet as the supreme commander."
The draft also says self-defense forces "may engage in activities conducted in international cooperation to secure peace and security of the international community."
Japanese troops have been limited to a non-combat, logistical role in international peacekeeping operations.
But Koizumi broke with tradition by deploying some 600 troops on a reconstruction and humanitarian mission in southern Iraq since late 2003.
It was Japan's first deployment to a country where fighting is ongoing since its World War II defeat. To avoid violating the pacifist constitution, the government says the troops operate in a "non-combat zone" within Iraq.
The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) is to tighten rules for candidates running for public office, requiring them to declare that they do not hold a Chinese household registration or passport, and that they possess no other foreign citizenship. The requirement was set out in a draft amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法 ) released by the ministry on Thursday. Under the proposal, candidates would need to make the declaration when submitting their registration forms, which would be published in the official election bulletin. The move follows the removal of several elected officials who were
The Republic of China (ROC) is celebrating its 114th Double Ten National Day today, featuring military parades and a variety of performances and speeches in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei. The Taiwan Taiko Association opened the celebrations with a 100-drummer performance, including young percussionists. As per tradition, an air force Mirage 2000 fighter jet flew over the Presidential Office as a part of the performance. The Honor Guards of the ROC and its marching band also heralded in a military parade. Students from Taichung's Shin Min High School then followed with a colorful performance using floral imagery to represent Taiwan's alternate name
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