LDP To Push Constitutional Reforms After July Elections

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is expected to push for constitutional reforms to allow an overhaul of the military following the July 10 House of Councilors elections.

• LDP Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters today: "After the election, we want to as quickly as we can propose to the Diet constitutional revisions and have the proposed changes initiated."
• Motegi: "We hope that parties and lawmakers with a forward-thinking stance on constitutional reform will gain the people's support."
• Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has stated an intention to raise military spending and reform the country's armed forces but there has never been a successful alteration to the 1946 constitution. Any change to the constitution will require a two-third majority in both houses of parliament and approval of the electorate via referendum.
• Tokyo Review: "From joining in sanctions against Russia, to inching towards firmer commitments to defending Taiwan, to cementing a plan to raise defense spending to 2 percent of GDP, the Japanese government under Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is crossing quite a few lines that his predecessors had rarely dared to challenge – and he may yet succeed where his hawkish predecessors have failed."