Digital Commons Network^™

The long simmering debate in Japan over whether and how to amend the war-renouncing provision of the Constitution, the famous Article 9, is once again heating up. Laws are now in place for a plebiscite on the issue. The Liberal Democratic Party has published a formal amendment proposal, which would operate to eviscerate the meaningful constraints on the use of force. The left continues to oppose any and all revision, even though public opinion has begun to shift, Japan’s strategic situation has become more fraught, and external pressure for Japan to play a greater international role mounts. Amendment is more …