Japan has moved a step closer to enacting emergency security legislation to deal with direct military attacks on the nation. Last Wednesday, the government introduced in the Diet a package of three bills for such emergencies.
The main bill defines responses to military attacks from abroad. The other two bills would amend, respectively, the Self-Defense Forces Law and the law governing the Security Council of Japan.
In a policy speech to the Diet in February, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stressed the need for emergency legislation when he said, "We should bear in mind the adage: Be prepared and have no regrets."