#1 Japan approves New Constitutional Draft
Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 1:10 am
Banzai!
[quote]OKYO (AP) - The ruling party on Friday approved its final draft of a proposed revision of Japan's pacifist constitution that would drop a clause outlawing war and give the military a greater role in international security, officials said.
Article 9 of Japan's current constitution. drafted by U.S. occupation forces and unchanged since 1947, bars the use of military force in settling international disputes.
It also prohibits maintaining a military for warfare, though the Japanese government has interpreted that to mean the nation can have armed troops to protect itself, allowing the existence of its 240,000-strong Self-Defense Forces.
The Liberal Democratic Party's final draft cuts the “no warâ€Â
[quote]OKYO (AP) - The ruling party on Friday approved its final draft of a proposed revision of Japan's pacifist constitution that would drop a clause outlawing war and give the military a greater role in international security, officials said.
Article 9 of Japan's current constitution. drafted by U.S. occupation forces and unchanged since 1947, bars the use of military force in settling international disputes.
It also prohibits maintaining a military for warfare, though the Japanese government has interpreted that to mean the nation can have armed troops to protect itself, allowing the existence of its 240,000-strong Self-Defense Forces.
The Liberal Democratic Party's final draft cuts the “no warâ€Â