The leader of the ruling party's smaller coalition partner said Friday that he does not agree with the defense policy changes that would allow Japanese forces to fight overseas to help allies, despite U.S. support for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's review of the stance.
Abe is aiming to lift Japan's ban on collective self-defense, which means helping an ally under attack, to bolster security ties with the United States as China expands its military and North Korea develops its nuclear capabilities.
The United States welcomed and supported Japan's reassessment of its self-imposed ban on going to the aid of allies, the two countries said in a statement a day after Abe and U.S. President Barack Obama held talks in Tokyo on Thursday.