Tetsuzo Fuyushiba, secretary general of New Komeito, indicated Sunday he opposed Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's remarks that the pacifist Constitution should be revised so it can exercise the right to collective defense and carry out joint actions with U.S. forces.
"I oppose the exercise of the right to collective defense if it means that Japan will fight anywhere in the world together with U.S. forces," Fuyushiba said during two TV appearances. "Such a stance will not gain the approval of our party."
New Komeito is the ruling coalition partner of Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party.
The prime minister has repeatedly stated his belief about the constitutional revision during the campaign for the House of Councilors election on July 11.
The government interprets the Constitution as forbidding Japan from coming to the military aid of an ally, although it believes Japan does have the right to collective defense under international law.
On the characterization of the Self-Defense Forces under the Constitution, Fuyushiba suggested Japan clearly stipulate that the SDF is constitutional by stating its existence in the Constitution.