ニュース 2014/05/15 Kaieda calls content of PM’s press conference “flimsy” On May 15, DPJ President Banri Kaieda held a special press conference at party headquarters. This was held in response to a press conference held by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that same day, in which the Prime Minister expressed his intention to proceed with considering whether to permit the use of the right to collective self-defence within the administration and ruling parties, following the issuance of a report by the Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for Security. In his press conference Abe had stated that of the recommendations made by the Advisory Panel, the government would accept the recommendation that use of the right to collective self-defense should be permitted, but would not accept the recommendation that Japan should participate in collective security measures taken by the United Nations that involve the use of military force. Kaieda commented, “I had the strong impression that we were being shown an elaborately crafted performance. I think that the Prime Minister was trying hard to convey the impression that the exercise of the right to collective self-defence he is aiming for is a limited one, but there is no guarantee anywhere that the right to collective self-defence will be limited.” The Prime Minister had said that he envisaged permitting use of the right to collective self-defence “if such a situation has the potential to significantly affect the security of Japan”. Kaieda pointed out, “It is the government who decides such matters, and so there is a possibility that the interpretation [of the Constitution] will be expanded.” Kaieda commented on the forthcoming Diet debate, saying, “The points announced in today’s press conference were exceedingly flimsy, and therefore if they are the only grounds for debate, then that is totally inadequate. We must debate the issue in the Diet, but I would like the government to set forth more detailed points at that time.”