Japanese premier seeks brisk debate on amending constitution

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Wednesday called for a fast-track debate on amending the country's war-renouncing constitution.

Kishida told the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to “accelerate discussions on the contentious issue of stipulating the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) in the war-renouncing Article 9 of Japan's postwar Constitution,” Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported.

Japan’s war-renouncing constitution was imposed by the US at the end of World War II, after Tokyo surrendered.

Kishida’s urge to fast-track the amendment process also comes when Japan has cemented its defense posture by making tweaks to its law, allowing the export of some weaponry.

It has also boosted its defense spending, and strengthened its defense alliance with the US.

The role of the SDF is “most important for the state” as they "protect the lives of the people at all times,” said Kishida.

He added that the “existence should be clearly stipulated in the supreme law of this country.”

The LDP leader asked for the debate to be concluded by the end of this month as the party will go for a leadership contest in September.