The ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday endorsed a new draft Constitution featuring a rewritten version of war-renouncing Article 9 that would officially allow the nation to possess a military for self-defense.
The draft was compiled by the LDP's Constitution drafting committee. It was endorsed during a meeting of the LDP's Executive Council, the party's top-decision making body, following its endorsement at the drafting committee's general assembly earlier in the day.
The Democratic Party of Japan, the nation's main opposition force, is planning to present its preliminary draft for a revised Constitution on Monday.