Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is "confident" of progress in amending Japan's pacifist constitution, he said today, in his first policy speech since his landslide election victory. "I'm confident that debate on amending the constitution will be able to advance," he told the newly formed parliament. However, in his today's policy speech, he steered clear of giving any time frame and has previously said he will move cautiously on the divisive issue. Nationalists like Abe say the constitution is a humiliating relic imposed by US occupiers after Japan's defeat in World War II. Abe wants to change the wording of the document to affirm Japan's right to have a full-fledged military.

Source: Economic Times November 17, 2017 06:33 UTC