The ruling coalition kicked off discussions Tuesday aimed at overcoming a fundamental division on whether the Cabinet should reinterpret the Constitution and upgrade Japan's defense posture in a changing security environment.
While the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants swift progress to that end, New Komeito is cool to the proposed changes and hopes to drag out talks and delay a final decision on collective self-defense.
The parties agreed they should focus first on an expanded role for the Self-Defense Forces in dealing with so-called gray-zone incidents, such as incursions or clashes that fall short of a full-fledged military attack.