Koizumi: “The Self-Defense Force is a Military Force”

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stressed yesterday the need for an amendment to the “Peaceful Constitution,” calling the Self-Defense Force as a military force.

Koizumi, president of the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party, appeared on Fuji TV and expressed his opinion while also giving a public pledge about an amendment to the Japanese constitution by 2005. Koizumi said, “It is common sense that the Self-Defense Force is the group to obstruct an invasion as well as acting as the military force. It is better to change the name of the Self-Defense Force to the military force because the Self-Defense Force protects the nation.”

Koizumi asserted, “The constitutional rule that the Self-Defense Force is not a military force is not in accordance with common sense. We need to revise article 9 of the constitution in which ‘the reservation of the land, sea, air forces and the other forces are prohibited’. “

Meanwhile the opposite party criticized him, saying, “The fact that the prime minister accepts the Self-Defense Force as a military force is not in accordance with the public opinion of the Japanese government, and it is an action which violates the constitution.” Until now the Japanese government has maintained its position about article 9 of the constitution, which states that the Self-Defense Force is different from a conventional military force, with a right of belligerency and is a defensive organization.

Hun-Joo Cho hanscho@donga.com