Abe Aims to Redefine Self-Defense Forces

Tokyo, Feb. 1 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his eagerness Friday to revise the country's constitution in order to redefine the Self-Defense Forces as a military for national defense. The SDF, although not called a military at home, is treated as a military under international law, Abe told a plenary meeting of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament. "Japan needs to resolve this paradox in line with the reality," he said. It was the first time Abe has referred to a need to create a military since he took office in late December. In its campaign pledges for the House of Representatives election in mid-December, Abe's Liberal Democratic Party said it aims to have the existence of a military stated clearly in the constitution. The LDP took power after winning the Lower House election. But Abe has refrained from pressing the issue until now, apparently taking into account opposition from New Komeito, the LDP's ruling coalition partner. The prime minister told the Upper House meeting that he has no plans to change the principle of civilian control as well as the principles of pacifism and renunciation of war under the constitution. Abe said his government upholds the statement issued by then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama in 1995 to apologize for Japan's past colonial rule and aggression against people in other Asian countries. Abe said his government shares the recognition of former administrations that Japan inflicted tremendous damage and suffering on the people of other Asian countries in the past. He added he wants to issue a new statement about the Japanese government's view of history at an appropriate time. It will be future-oriented and suitable for the 21st century, he said. Abe also vowed to make every effort to stop school bullying and corporal punishment. "Tragic cases in which students commit suicide as a result of bullying or physical punishment at school should never be repeated," Abe said. He said his government will work on legislative steps and boost measures to deal with the issue. He suggested that the government will draw up guidelines for corporate punishment so that teachers can share a common view. Abe's comments follow a series of bullying and physical punishment incidents at schools. In a high-profile case, a 13-year-old junior high school student killed himself in 2011 in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, after bullying at school. In another, a 17-year-old boy committed suicide late last year after being punished by a basketball coach at a high school in Osaka, western Japan. END