Talks between the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito over Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's bid to reinterpret the Constitution to enable Japan to engage in collective self-defense have bordered on rhetorical maneuvers to make it appear as if the change would allow the nation to use force only in a minimum scope outside its territory — to get the reluctant junior coalition partner on board.
What became evident through the nearly wrapped-up talks is that the "limits" that the Abe administration promises to impose are so vaguely defined as to leave broad room for Japanese involvement in overseas military operations.
In substance, the change will enable Japan to take military action to defend other countries even though the nation itself is not under attack — a fundamental departure from Japan's postwar defense posture that restricted its use of force to acts of self-defense to repel an enemy attack on its territory. Abe has repeatedly emphasized that Japan will engage in the minimum level of collective self-defense necessary. However, statements by the prime minister and LDP leaders suggest that they want to avoid tying the government's hands too tight.