 |
2014/06/11
Kaieda lambasts Abe in QT
|
On June 11, the first Prime Minister’s Question Time of the current Diet session took place. DPJ President Banri Kaieda clashed with Prime Minister Abe over the issue of the right to collective self-defence.
Kaieda started off by explaining the DPJ’s position, approved by the party’s Next Cabinet on March 4, stating, “There is a long-standing interpretation of the Constitution regarding the exercise of the right to collective self-defence and it is unacceptable to directly deny this interpretation and change it to permit the exercise of the right to collective self-defence in general.” He went on to state, “Of course the current situation in East Asia has changed enormously from ten or twenty years ago. It goes without saying that we need to make preparations to thoroughly protect Japan’s territory, territorial waters and national airspace. For such reasons it is unacceptable that there should be gaps in the legal provisions for our nation’s security, the so-called ‘grey zone’ incidents or minor self-defence rights. We will continue to make a thorough response to such issues.” Kaieda went on to explain that the DPJ was at “the stage of investigating” each of the fifteen scenarios that had been cited by the government as “cases which cannot be responded to using the individual right to self-defence” in the discussions between the ruling parties.
Kaieda went on to comment on Prime Minister Abe’s intention of gaining Cabinet approval by the end of the Diet session on June 22, stating, “That is downright hasty. There has been no debate with the Japanese people. Nor have there been discussions with the Diet members who represent the people.” He called on the Prime Minister to explain his actions, commenting, “If the Prime Minister wishes to exercise the right to self-defence, then surely he should first be calling for constitutional revision.”
However, the Prime Minister avoided answering this question, only responding, “It is not as if the SDF can take action immediately once cabinet approval has been gained. In order for the SDF to be able to act legal revisions are needed. Naturally Diet debate will take place when these legal revisions are undertaken.”
Kaieda once more repeated his point that if the Prime Minister believes that the fifteen scenarios cannot be dealt with under the current interpretation of the Constitution, then the natural choice would be to initiate procedures to amend the Constitution, and asked again why the Prime Minister had not decided on this course, but Abe did not answer his question.
Regarding the scenario which envisages the protection of U.S. transport vessels carrying Japanese nationals evacuating from a nation at war, Kaieda stated, “What is important is that combat has already started, and so getting involved in this combat means that Japan is starting a war. It is clear that exercising the right to collective self-defence could lead to the shedding of blood by SDF troops.”
Regarding the case which envisages the SDF being dispatched for marine mine hunting operations during a combat situation in the Gulf of Hormuz, Kaieda said, “There are reserves [of oil]. It would also be possible to hunt for mines once combat has ended. Rather than doing such things, can you really call on SDF troops to put themselves at risk in order to secure oil.”
In response, the Prime Minister said, “I am aware that the SDF troops all have families who love them. But having understood this, I must fulfill my duty as a politician to protect the lives of Japanese nationals and their peaceful way of life.
Kaieda severely criticized Abe’s stance, saying that, “The Prime Minister is intoxicated with his own rhetoric,” “Are you intended to overturn history, saying that the U.S. and Japan now have an equal partnership and so you want to be able to visit Yasukuni freely? This way of thinking of yours, the very fact that you are the Prime Minister, is itself the number one risk to Japan’s national security.”
|
|
|
 |
|
