Liberal Party leader Ichiro Ozawa reiterated on Wednesday that the government should clarify its stance on interpreting Self-Defense Forces' participation in United Nations military peacekeeping operations, as it pertains to the Constitution.
The Japanese government has traditionally barred the SDF from joining U.N. combat operations, based on the 1947 Constitution and the 1954 SDF Law, which rules out any participation in collective defense.
Interpreting how the Constitution applies to SDF participation overseas is one of the focal points between Ozawa's party and Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party in their talks to form a coalition government.
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