Japan can defend its allies and friendly nations under attack but only at their request, a prominent member of a government panel mulling collective security said Friday in an apparent attempt to ease concern that the government may act at its own initiative.
Shinichi Kitaoka, a professor at International University of Japan who sits on the panel, said Japan can only defend its allies and friendly nations if the attack they may be under severely harms Japan's interests or when those nations officially request assistance.
The government still has to seek Diet approval and gain permission from other nations for the Self-Defense Forces to traverse other territories, he said at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo.