ニュース 2014/07/01 Statement strongly protesting the Cabinet decision to permit the use of the right to collective self-defence On July 1, DPJ President Banri Kaieda issued the following statement. Today, the government obtained Cabinet approval for changing to interpretation of the Constitution to permit the use of the right to collective self-defence. Prime Minister Abe selected an advisory panel whose line-up made the result of discussion a “foregone conclusion”, ordered them to produce a report, and then engaged in secret backroom talks between the ruling parties to carry out adjustments before having the proposal approved by the Cabinet. We are totally opposed to this Cabinet decision which is outrageous and opaque and above all totally ignores constitutionalism. The DPJ will maintain an ‘exclusively defence-orientated policy’, under the auspices of Japan’s peace constitution, and will continue to hold fast to the basic principle that Japan will not become a military power that poses a threat to other nations. We believe it is unacceptable to change the interpretation of the Constitution to permit the exercise of the right to collective self-defence in general. We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that we cannot accept today’s Cabinet decision, and to call for it to be rescinded.