From: Rick Rozoff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Full search?Japan's new premier: Anti-war constitution can change By Gary Schaefer Associated Press May 11, 2001 TOKYO -- Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Thursday that Japan's anti-war constitution wasn't "immutable" and promised a hard look at the delicate question of expanding the role of Japan's military. Koizumi made the remarks in parliament, where he faced questions from opposition lawmakers two weeks after winning Japan's top job on a platform calling for sweeping economic and political reform. "I don't think the constitution is forever immutable," Koizumi said. "Without prejudging the matter, I will adopt a flexible approach to the question of the need to amend it." His comments on the constitution emphasized his willingness to consider seriously one of the most bitterly divisive questions in Japanese politics: What role Japan's military should play and how closely it should cooperate with its allies. Article 9 of the 1947 constitution, written by U.S. occupation officials after the war, bars Japan from using military force as a means of settling international disputes. The Japanese government has interpreted that document to mean that the nation can possess armed forces for self-defense, but in recent years some ruling-party politicians have begun pushing for amendments that would allow the military to participate in collective defense with its allies. The United States has encouraged such action. Earlier this week Koizumi met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who said they discussed a "new security architecture and strategic framework in Asia." Any moves to raise the profile of the Japanese military in that framework are likely to bring protests from China, South Korea and other Asian countries where memories of Japan's wartime brutalities remain vivid. Opinion polls also indicate that the Japanese are leery of changes to a document considered sacred by many older people. "Any change to the interpretation has to be done very carefully," Koizumi said, stressing the importance of a comprehensive national debate. The caveat wasn't enough to placate opposition lawmakers, who accused him of blindly marching to Washington's drumbeat. "The independent security policies of postwar Japan, based on deep remorse over this nation's wars of aggression and colonial domination, will collapse in a heap" if Japanese forces are allowed to engage in collective defense outside its borders, said Takako Doi, longtime leader of the Social Democrats. Koizumi has also drawn fire for pledging to visit a shrine where Japan's fallen soldiers--including convicted war criminals--are worshiped. He told parliament on Friday that he planned to pay his respects at the Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, the anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender, though it was unclear whether he would do so in his official capacity as prime minister or as a private citizen. Since taking office, the 59-year-old Koizumi has turned up the volume of his high-decibel reformist rhetoric. But he also admitted Thursday that one high-profile economic reform may be delayed. He said it would be "difficult" to complete plans for a fund to buy up stocks owned by banks by June. It has long been customary for Japanese lenders and their corporate clients to hold each other's shares to cement their relations. But with the Tokyo stock market in a deep slump, banks' large portfolios have become a heavy drag on their finances. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
