A constitutional research panel of the Liberal Democratic Party has decided to prioritize the compilation of draft revisions to the preamble of the country's war-renouncing Constitution, LDP sources said Tuesday.
The panel wishes to emphasize "healthy patriotism," while maintaining three major principles already embedded in the preamble -- popular sovereignty, respect for fundamental human rights and pacifism.
A new phrase exhorting respect for Japanese history, tradition and culture could be be introduced under the revision proposals, the sources said.
The panel has decided to maintain the renunciation of war stipulated in the first paragraph of Article 9.
But it plans to eliminate the second paragraph, which forbids Japan from maintaining "land, sea and air forces as well as other war potential," the sources said.
Under the proposals, the Self-Defense Forces would be viewed as "military forces," while the country's right to exercise self-defense would be stipulated.
The Japanese government interprets the Constitution as prohibiting Japan from exercising its right to collective defense, though this right is guaranteed under international law.
The acknowledgment that Japan may exercise its right to collective defense could pave the way for the SDF to resort to military action overseas.