TOKYO, Dec. 20 -- Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) approved Wednesday an interim report summarizing its arguments over constitutional reform, marking another step towards the first-ever amendment to the pacifist postwar constitution.
According to the interim report, the LDP members all share the view to legalize the existence of Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) through revising the constitution, but differ over the ways to achieve the goal.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is also president of the LDP, proposed in May this year to have the language in the revised constitution to specifically mention the SDF, while maintaining the current paragraphs of the war-renouncing Article 9.
"By making explicit the status of the SDF in the constitution during our generation's lifetime, we should leave no room for contending that the SDF may be unconstitutional," the prime minister said.
While some of the party members support the approach advocated by Abe, others want to delete Article 9's second paragraph which says Japan renounces the right to maintain military forces and other war potential, according to the report.
The report did not set any schedule for revising the constitution but said the party will hold "constructive talks" with other parties and parliamentary groups on the matter.
Local media reported that the LDP eyes crafting its amendment proposals and presenting them during the ordinary Diet session to be convened in January.
Meanwhile, the LDP's constitutional revision moves have been firmly opposed by some opposition parties including the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) and the Japanese Communist Party, for "opening the way for Japan's unlimited use of force."
The general public is also divided over changing Article 9, as many believe that the war-renouncing article has enabled Japan to avoid conflicts and to have peaceful development over the past seven decades.
Some 40,000 people gathered outside the parliament building in Tokyo on Nov. 3 to protest against Abe's attempts to amend the pacifist constitution on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of the promulgation of the constitution.