Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan said she would make every effort to enable a national referendum to be held at an early date on revising Article 9 of the Constitution, which declares the renunciation of war and the use of force.

On the 4th, the Japanese parliament began a schedule of representative questions in which party leaders and other executives questioned Prime Minister Takaichi about her policy speech.

In the plenary session of the House of Representatives at the extraordinary Diet session, when asked about constitutional revision, Prime Minister Takaichi stated, “An update of the Constitution is necessary in light of international circumstances and social changes. Amending the Constitution to meet the demands of the times is an urgent task.” Regarding revision of Article 9, she said, “I am determined to persevere and go all-out to create an environment in which a national referendum asking for or against constitutional amendment can be held as soon as possible.” Prime Minister Takaichi has argued for a constitutional amendment that explicitly stipulates the existence of the Self-Defense Forces to secure their constitutionality.

On the early achievement of increasing defense spending, she said, “If, in budgeting, we include the expenses needed to strengthen the personnel base of the Self-Defense Forces, to establish systems to respond to drones, and otherwise to reinforce the foundation for SDF activities, then raising it to the level of 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) will, as a result, be achieved.” Immediately after taking office, Prime Minister Takaichi instructed the Ministry of Defense to expedite the early revision of the three key security documents and moved up the timing for defense spending to reach 2% of GDP.

She also said of the creation of a National Intelligence Agency that would oversee information collection·analysis operations, “We will promptly organize the points at issue and proceed with the review.”

Regarding the outcome of her summit with President Lee Jae-myung, she noted that “in the current strategic environment, views aligned on the importance of Japan-South Korea relations and Japan-South Korea-U.S. coordination.” She added, “Going forward, including the implementation of shuttle diplomacy, the two governments will maintain close communication.”

A question was also raised about the veracity of the White House announcement that Prime Minister Takaichi had decided to recommend U.S. President Donald Trump as a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize. Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party, pressed the prime minister, saying, “If she recommended him, it would be flattering diplomacy and a rash act.” In response, Prime Minister Takaichi said, “I will refrain from answering.”

The Japanese government plans to submit a supplementary budget bill that includes an increase in defense spending to the Diet next month. This is one of the key items for discussion at this extraordinary session. The Asahi Shimbun projected that, depending on how Prime Minister Takaichi answers during the period of representative questions that continues through the 6th, there is a possibility that handling of the budget bill will become precarious.