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On September 3, DPJ President held a press conference for foreign media based in Japan and spoke about the security legislations and others.
At the start, Okada explained his basic understanding [of Japan’s security policy], saying, “Post-war Japan has experienced 70 years of peace and prosperity, due to the combination of the pacifism of Article 9 of the Constitution and the deterrent power of the Japan-U.S. alliance…” and commented on the main problems with the government’s proposed security legislation as follows.
●Last year’s Cabinet decision on July 1 infringes against constitutionalism, the way in which 11 separate pieces of legislation (10 of which were bundled together into one legislative proposal) were submitted to the Diet simultaneously is questionable, and the government side has made careless and ambiguous responses during the Diet debate…
●The “three new conditions” for exercising the right to collective self-defense are ambiguous…
●There has been a breakdown of legislative facts, such as the case of mining sweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz, [that the government cites as examples where exercise of the right to collective self-defense is necessary,]…
●The government intends to omit references to “situations in areas surrounding Japan, as in the Act on Measures to Ensure the Peace and Security of Japan in Perilous Situations in Areas Surrounding Japan, and make it possible for the SDF to engage in operations together with the U.S. anywhere in the world…
Okada also explained the reporters about DPJ initiatives, such as the “Territorial Security Act,” which is based on the DPJ’s position that Japan’s security policy should be, “Realistic in Japan’s vicinity, restrictive in far-off regions and active in humanitarian assistance.”
At the end of his remarks Okada stated that Japan now stands at a crossroads, saying, “The LDP aims to revise the Constitution, and make Japan a country that can exercise the right to collective self-defense fully without any restrictions. The DPJ will utilize the pacifist spirit of the Constitution, and aim for a Japan that restricts its use of force overseas.”
In the Q & A session, Okada responded to questions raised by foreign reporters, such as how the DPJ would react to prevent the passage of the security legislation, the possibility of no-confidence motion against the Cabinet, and issues relating to the Tokyo Olympics.
DPJ Executive Office Director-General Yosuke Kondo acted as moderator for the press conference, which was also attended by DPJ International Department Director-General Yukihisa Fujita.
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