Survey shows not all Japanese are behind Abe

About 56.7 percent of the Japanese public believe the security bills under deliberation in the Japanese Diet are unconstitutional, according to a telephone survey conducted by the country's Kyodo News over the weekend. Meanwhile, the public approval rating for the Cabinet led by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe continued to wane, slipping to some 47.4 percent with a fall of 2.5 percent from the previous survey. Comments:

The increasing criticisms against the Abe administration in Japan, to some extent reflect the fact that many Japanese citizens are exponents of pacifism. But the brutal fact is, these bills are likely to be passed in the end, given the majority Diet seats are held by the ruling coalition of Abe's Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito. The security situation in the Asia-Pacific area may be greatly affected if Tokyo seeks to exercise its right to collective defense in so-called overseas crises.

Beijing Daily, June 19