10/09 Lawmakers cautious over Maehara's arms remark

Lawmakers in both the ruling and opposition parties are taking a cautious stance toward remarks about a possible review Japan's three principles on arms exports made by Seiji Maehara, chairman of the Democratic Party of Japan's Policy Research Committee.

The possibility of reviewing the principles was discussed last December, when the administration of former Prime Minister Naoto Kan was working out a national defense program guideline.

However, the Social Democratic Party opposed the idea, and with Kan not keen on it, the issue was dropped. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, who was serving as the finance minister of the Kan Cabinet at the time, supported the possible review.

Some officials in the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry said that though they thought such a review was impossible under the Kan administration, they expected Noda might move forward on the matter.

However, one of Noda's aides said, "Nothing indicated that he [Maehara] had coordinated his views with the government." It is therefore uncertain whether the issue will be on the agenda at the Japan-U.S. summit meeting.

At a press conference Thursday morning, Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said, "We'll consider the issue." But in the afternoon he revised his remark.

"For now, we have made no concrete decisions on how to proceed with the debate. I believe [Maehara] was giving his personal opinion," Fujimura said.

The positions of Fujimura and other DPJ members remain to be articulated due to the party's internal situation, in which members who formerly belonged to the Japan Socialist Party and some other members strongly oppose the review.

In an interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun and other media, Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa said, "It remains to be seen whether [Maehara's remark] will be considered as merely one opinion within the party."

Some members of the opposition parties, which the Noda administration wants to cooperate with on post-disaster reconstruction, voiced cautious views on the matter.

New Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi said: "How does the [new] government interpret the original purpose behind the three principles, namely that Japan should not be party to escalating or expanding armed conflict? How does the government intend to project or change Japan's image in the international community? Debates on these points have been totally insufficient."

In the wake of changes to decision-making policies after the launch of the new Cabinet, the DPJ's chairman of the Policy Research Committee has gained strong authority, such as the power to prescreen government-sponsored bills prior to submission to the Diet.

Maehara himself has a reputation for voicing strong ideas, but not being able to realize them, as was seen in his reactions to the construction of Yamba Dam when he served as the land, infrastructure, transport and tourism minister.

Some lawmakers expressed concern that his stance over the review of the three principles may cause confusion.

(Sep. 10, 2011)

09/09 Maehara: Review arms export policy / Mentions SDF weapon use in U.S. speech

Yuko Mukai / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

WASHINGTON--Seiji Maehara, the ruling Democratic Party of Japan's policy chief, on Wednesday said Japan needs to review its three principles on arms exports and ease restrictions on the Self-Defense Forces' use of weapons during overseas operations.

In a speech at a symposium in Washington, Maehara said doing so could deepen the Japan-U.S. alliance and increase Japan's contributions to international peacekeeping operations.

In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said at a press conference Thursday that the government "will consider" conducting a review of the principles.

Observers said Maehara's speech was designed to show that the administration of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda intends to center its foreign policy on the Japan-U.S. alliance.

Maehara's visit to the United States is apparently intended to smooth the way for Noda, who is scheduled to make a speech at a U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York beginning Sept. 21.

Maehara, chairman of the DPJ's Policy Research Committee and a former foreign minister, said in the speech that the extent of SDF participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations is "still not enough."

"We need to solve legal issues," he said in English.

In particular, Maehara called for easing regulations on the use of arms by the SDF, "to enable the SDF to defend other countries' military units operating with the SDF from imminent and unlawful infringement."

He also indicated the government and the DPJ will look into the matter.

Currently, SDF personnel involved in overseas operations, such as U.N. peacekeeping efforts, are allowed to use arms only to defend themselves or other SDF troops.

Reviewing the three principles on arms exports would address the risk of Japan's defense industry being left behind in the international race to develop innovative technology, including weapons technology, Maehara said.

Conducting a review of the principles was raised under the administration of former Prime Minister Naoto Kan, which considered making it a stipulation in the basic national defense policy that was approved last December. But out of consideration for the Social Democratic Party, with which the DPJ was trying to form a coalition, Kan's Cabinet dropped the idea.

Maehara's remarks appear to be aimed at rekindling discussions on the issue within the government and the ruling party.

At a press conference Monday, new Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa said, "It would be possible to consider [carrying out a review]."

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TPP decision coming 'ASAP'

Also on Wednesday, Maehara held talks with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns at the U.S. State Department.

Maehara told Burns the Noda administration will make a final decision as soon as possible regarding whether Japan will join the Trans-Pacific Partnership regional trade agreement, according to sources.

However, Maehara stopped short of specifying a time by which Tokyo will make the decision, the sources said.

(Sep. 9, 2011)