Japan government considers pre-emptive military strikes

[DuctapeFatwa]

TOKYO (AP) - To counter the growing threat of terrorism, Japan's government plans to consider legislation that would relax a long-standing ban against a pre-emptive military strike, allowing troops to fire at suspicious vessels and armed spies - even outside the country's borders, a newspaper reported Wednesday.
If approved, the proposed bill could anger Asian countries that suffered brutalities under Japanese military rule decades ago.

Japan is strictly limited by its post-World War II constitution from launching an offensive military attack. While not barred from defending itself, Japan has stood by a post-war doctrine preventing its forces from firing until they are attacked.

The legislation, which would be submitted during the parliamentary session from January, is likely to permit the military to strike first when there is a threat to national security, such as armed spies on Japanese soil, the national Asahi newspaper said.

http://www.brunei-online.com/bb/thu/jan1w15.htm