Japan amended its pacifist constitution to grant more teeth to its armed forces to defend itself from Chinese aggression.
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BEIJING: Japan on Tuesday amended its pacifist constitution giving more powers to the military, causing serious worries in China and South Korea. Japan's military had remained shackled to a self-defensive role since the Americans drafted the island nation's constitution after World War II.
The new decision by the Shinzo Abe cabinet is expected to escalate Japan-China dispute over Diaoyu Islands in East China Sea. "Japan might now even step up its efforts to support Vietnam and Philippines, which too are engaged in territorial disputes with China," a source said.
The Cabinet decision permits the Abe government to authorize greater military engagement in times of national threats, and even when a country friendly to Japan faces territorial risks. Japan has cited its dispute with China over Diaoyu Islands as the reason for amending the constitution.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei reacted to Tokyo's move saying, "China opposes the Japanese fabricating the China threat to promote its domestic political agenda.
"We demand that Japan respect the reasonable security concerns of its Asian neighbors and prudently handle the relevant matter," Hong said. "Japan must respect its neighbors' security concerns, not harm the national sovereignty and security interests of China and not undermine regional peace and stability."
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Japan sheds pacifist constitution, gives military more powers - The Times of India
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BEIJING: Japan on Tuesday amended its pacifist constitution giving more powers to the military, causing serious worries in China and South Korea. Japan's military had remained shackled to a self-defensive role since the Americans drafted the island nation's constitution after World War II.
The new decision by the Shinzo Abe cabinet is expected to escalate Japan-China dispute over Diaoyu Islands in East China Sea. "Japan might now even step up its efforts to support Vietnam and Philippines, which too are engaged in territorial disputes with China," a source said.
The Cabinet decision permits the Abe government to authorize greater military engagement in times of national threats, and even when a country friendly to Japan faces territorial risks. Japan has cited its dispute with China over Diaoyu Islands as the reason for amending the constitution.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei reacted to Tokyo's move saying, "China opposes the Japanese fabricating the China threat to promote its domestic political agenda.
"We demand that Japan respect the reasonable security concerns of its Asian neighbors and prudently handle the relevant matter," Hong said. "Japan must respect its neighbors' security concerns, not harm the national sovereignty and security interests of China and not undermine regional peace and stability."
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Japan sheds pacifist constitution, gives military more powers - The Times of India