Abe Reiterates Resolve to Clarify SDF in Constitution

September 3, 2018

Tokyo- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday reiterated his determination to clarify the rationale for the existence of the Self-Defense Forces in war-renouncing Article 9 of Japan's constitution.

"It is the responsibility of politicians to create an environment that allows all SDF members to fulfill their duties with a strong sense of pride," Abe said in his address to a meeting of high-ranking SDF officials that was held at the Defense Ministry.

"I'm determined to fulfill this responsibility," he said.

On the new basic defense program that the government plans to adopt late this year, Abe said that there is no time to spare for Japan to shift to a defense system covering such new fields as space, cyberspace and electromagnetic waves in a cross-sectional way.

"I want all of you to consider the defense capabilities that are truly necessary for Japan from a wide perspective with bold ideas, instead of thinking about the issue as an extension of the existing policy," the prime minister said.

The meeting was attended by some 180 people, including Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, Vice Defense Minister Kenichi Takahashi, Katsutoshi Kawano, chief of staff at the SDF Joint Staff, and other senior officials of the Ground, Maritime and Air SDF. Jiji Press