Veteran lawmaker Ichiro Ozawa of the Democratic Party of Japan reiterated Sunday that Japanese troops can participate in U.N. peacekeeping activities, which could involve the use of force, without revising the Constitution.
Ozawa, former deputy leader of the opposition DPJ, is apparently disagreeing with comments by party leader Katsuya Okada, who revealed a conflicting view during a trip to the United States from late July to early August. Okada indicated that Japan needs to revise the Constitution to enable the use of force in U.N.-authorized activities.
"It would not pose a Constitutional problem if (Japanese troops) join U.N. peacekeeping activities," Ozawa said in a speech in Tokyo.