In Japan, ruling parties start talks for constitutional amendment on military

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its new junior coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, began talks on Thursday toward drafting proposals for the first-ever revision to Japan's postwar pacifist Constitution. The move comes as the LDP last month parted with its longstanding partner Komeito party, which has been reluctant to amend the war-renouncing Article 9, and teamed up with JIP that advocates a substantial change to the clause in light of tough security conditions. The LDP, which has long pursued a revision to the Constitution drafted by the U.S.-led occupation forces after World War II, and JIP plan to deepen their discussions on the amendment of Article 9 and on introducing an emergency clause that would give the government more power in the event of a major disaster or armed attack, according to lawmakers.
Read the full article here: Kyodo News