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New defence policy ‘will not increase risk to Japanese soldiers’

TOKYO — Japanese Defence Minister General Nakatani (picture) said yesterday that the government’s defence Bills allowing the military to fight abroad would not put soldiers at greater risk, as he sought to address domestic opposition to Tokyo’s drastic shift in security policy.

Japanese Defence Minister General Nakatani. Photo: Reuters

Japanese Defence Minister General Nakatani. Photo: Reuters

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TOKYO — Japanese Defence Minister General Nakatani (picture) said yesterday that the government’s defence Bills allowing the military to fight abroad would not put soldiers at greater risk, as he sought to address domestic opposition to Tokyo’s drastic shift in security policy.

The new legislation “would not increase” risk to Self-Defence Forces (SDF) personnel, said the minister at a news conference.

His remarks are striking as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has stopped short of clarifying his view on the matter. The comments are likely to draw attention when Parliament starts deliberation on the Bills on Tuesday.

“The legislation would contribute to the peace and security of the international community and boost deterrence of the Japan-US alliance,” said Mr Nakatani. “Benefits that the legislation would bring are far bigger than the risks. Deterrence would raise the level of safety.”

Explaining his position, Mr Nakatani said SDF personnel had carried out high-risk missions and would conduct sufficient training and planning to prepare for expanded assignments.

He added that the Bills contain safety measures, such as allowing the SDF to suspend operations and evacuate if risk arises, and that personnel had been granted the right to use weapons in line with the expansion of their missions.

Opposition parties and even some officials in the government and ruling coalition have expressed concern that it would be natural to assume that the legislation would put SDF personnel at increased risk, as the scope of their missions expands.

The Bills would, for example, allow Tokyo to exercise the right to collective self-defence or come to the aid of America or other nations under armed attack, even if Japan is not attacked.

In a one-on-one debate on Wednesday with Mr Abe in Parliament, the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan’s leader Katsuya Okada said he is against the exercise of collective self-defence and urged the Prime Minister to fully explain to the public the risks Japan might face if the Bills become law.

Mr Okada said the public has concerns that the legislation would undermine the pacifist Constitution.

Vowing to get the legislation enacted this summer, Mr Abe dismissed the view that the Bills would “drag Japan into combat activity against its will”.

The government submitted the Bills to Parliament on May 15, a day after Mr Abe’s Cabinet approved them.

The Prime Minister has said Japan’s military needs to be able to do more to protect the country and contribute to international peacekeeping efforts.

However, Mr Abe has also sought to calm public opposition and regional concern over the proposed legislation by pledging that Tokyo would not wage war.

The Bills have split public opinion in Japan, with critics calling them “war legislation” that would turn the nation towards militarism. Agencies

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