Prime Minister Shinzo Abe once again underlined the necessity of reinterpreting the war-renouncing Constitution to allow Japan to engage in collective self-defense during a debate Wednesday, while the main opposition leader failed to capitalize on the opportunity to attack Abe and roll back his influence within the ruling LDP-led coalition.
In the 45-minute debate, Abe reiterated his belief that Self-Defense Forces should engage in peacekeeping missions such as mine-sweeping in the Strait of Hormuz in order to protect national interests, even if such action costs SDF lives.
"If nobody removes the mines, there will be an economic panic (in Japan). And Japan will definitely suffer serious economic damages," Abe said to Democratic Party of Japan leader Banri Kaieda, who asked in return if the prime minister thought it was necessary for SDF members to run the risk of death for the sake of protecting petroleum imports.