Koizumi Again Raises Collective Self-Defense Issue

Once again yesterday, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi called for a constitutional revision so that “Japan could engage in collective self-defense with U.S. forces for the defense of Japan if it was under an active attack.”

Koizumi’s assertion came during a televised debate with five political party leaders aired on Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) ahead of the July 11 Japanese Upper House election.

Although the Japanese premier has consistently maintained his stand that Japan should obtain the right to collective self-defense through constitutional revision, this was the first time he ever made the United States a subject of discussion. Collective self-defense is a state’s right of jointly defending a coalition partner if the partner is under an armed attack, considering the attack as a threat to its own peace and security.

Japan’s Peace Constitution, enacted after World War II, bans the use of force and the exercise of collective self-defense in order to prevent the ravages of war. Since then, according to its own interpretation of the constitution, Tokyo holds the view that it should retain the right of “individual self-defense” in a bid to engage in self-defense against a possible attack on its territory.

Hun-Joo Cho hanscho@donga.com