The Abe Cabinet on June 7 endorsed a bill to create a Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council, which serves the White House in considering national security and foreign policy matters. The government hopes to have the bill enacted by the Diet this fall.

In view of the dispute with China over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea and North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, at a first glance, setting up an NSC-like organization appears to be necessary. But there is no guarantee that the planned organization will acquire the capability to quickly and flexibly respond to an emergency situation. It's possible that the new organization will complicate the decision-making process, thus reducing the government's flexibility to make timely judgments and respond quickly to emergencies.

Under the bill, the prime minister, the foreign minister, the defense minister and the chief Cabinet secretary will serve as the core of the new organization. The prime minister and the three Cabinet ministers will meet roughly once every two weeks and decide on basic lines in foreign and defense policies. An official will be appointed to advise the prime minister on national security issues. The adviser will also give advice at meetings of the prime minister and the three Cabinet ministers.