The Liberal Democratic Party has rather suddenly started airing the idea of upgrading the Defense Agency to a ministry. The party proposed the upgrade in its platform for the Sept. 11 general elections and the prospects for making it happen look stronger now that New Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, has agreed to support a bill to this effect. The LDP plans to submit the bill to the Diet's ordinary session next year.
The LDP platform statement said that by upgrading the administrative status of the Defense Agency the party would be better able to encourage the Japanese people to show more respect and appreciation to Self-Defense Force members, "who are working for the nation's independence and peace."
That statement suggests that SDF members have not been accorded enough honor for their efforts nor instilled with enough pride in their role. The LDP's thinking appears based on the false assumption that, because the SDF is under an agency, SDF members are unable to feel as much pride as they should in protecting the nation. Yet it is an uncontested fact that many Japanese citizens do respect and are grateful for SDF members, especially those engaged in rescue operations in disaster-hit areas in Japan and abroad.