If proposed constitutional changes are adopted, Japan may formally give itself the right to have a military force.

Although still identifying the peaceful nature of any military presence, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is moving to clearly include Japan's Self-Defence Forces (SDF) in a draft constitution revision, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported Monday.

Japan's pacifist constitution developed after World War II forbids the possession of an army and the involvement in warfare.

Yet, as a leading economic power, Japan's ambition to play an important role politically and militarily has flared up.

Japan's main ruling party is likely to propose preserving the constitution's war-renouncing clause while formally recognizing the right to have a military, a party lawmaker said Monday.

The constitution has not been revised since its adoption in 1947. Conservative politicians, however, have grown frustrated with the restrictions imposed by its pacifist Article 9.

But with Asian neighbors that were victims of Japan's wartime aggression watching warily and more than half of Japanese voters still opposed to changing Article 9, the process is politically and diplomatically touchy.

The first clause of the US-drafted Article 9 renounces the right to war as a means of resolving international disputes.

The second clause prohibits a military, but has been interpreted as allowing armed forces for self-defence.

The ruling LDP is working on a draft of a new constitution ahead of the party's 50th anniversary in November and initial proposals may be unveiled in March.

"It is OK not to touch the first clause," Yoichi Masuzoe, vice-chairman of an LDP panel working on revisions to Article 9 said.

Masuzoe said Monday that the panel was leaning towards recommending keeping the first clause and revising the second.

"We have to discuss more, but I hope we can lead the discussion in that direction," he said.

Although the revision will not endow a collective self-defence right, the panel sought to work out a security law, along with the government's long-standing claim to have the right, to give the SDF the capacity.

Changes to the constitution require a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament and approval by a simple majority of voters in a national referendum, a high hurdle that some say means the process could take several years.

In an effort to gain broad backing, the panel may recommend not specifying the right to engage in collective self-defence, or aiding allies who come under attack, Masuzoe said.

The proposed constitutional change may, however, mention that Japan's armed forces have a role to play in contributing to international peace and prosperity, according to Masuzoe.

Japan has sent troops on peace-keeping operations and now has some 550 on a non-combat mission in Iraq, Japan's biggest and riskiest operation since World War II.

Critics have said the Iraq mission violates the constitution.

(China Daily March 1, 2005)