Friday December 15, 7:54 PM
Japan creates first defense ministry since WWII
Japan's parliament has enacted laws to create a full-fledged defense ministry and to instill patriotism at schools, breaking two taboos lingering since defeat in World War II.
The bills were legislative victories for embattled Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a passionate advocate of a more assertive Japan, who has faced slipping poll ratings and on Friday survived a no-confidence motion. . . .
The upper house approved the bill to create a cabinet-level defense ministry for the first time since 1945, upgrading the "Defense Agency" which had lower rank and influence. The lower house already passed it.
Abe, the first premier to be born after the war, has put a top priority on creating a defense ministry and eventually rewriting the US-imposed 1947 constitution that declared Japan a pacifist country.
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/061215/1/45hl0.html
Japan creates first defense ministry since WWII
Japan's parliament has enacted laws to create a full-fledged defense ministry and to instill patriotism at schools, breaking two taboos lingering since defeat in World War II.
The bills were legislative victories for embattled Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a passionate advocate of a more assertive Japan, who has faced slipping poll ratings and on Friday survived a no-confidence motion. . . .
The upper house approved the bill to create a cabinet-level defense ministry for the first time since 1945, upgrading the "Defense Agency" which had lower rank and influence. The lower house already passed it.
Abe, the first premier to be born after the war, has put a top priority on creating a defense ministry and eventually rewriting the US-imposed 1947 constitution that declared Japan a pacifist country.
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/061215/1/45hl0.html
