The Cabinet on Tuesday confirmed that contentious security laws will take effect on March 29, but Defense Minister Gen Nakatani has decided the Self-Defense Forces won't take on some of the new roles they make available until all the details are in place.
The laws, passed by the Diet six months ago after more than 114 hours of deliberation, will allow Japan to exercise the U.N. right to collective self-defense under limited circumstances when the nation’s existence is threatened.
Article 9 of the Constitution had long been interpreted by the government as limiting Japan’s use of force strictly to self-defense, and as banning the use of collective self-defense. But Abe's Cabinet has declared this interpretation defunct in 2014.