Japan wants to revise the existing law prioritizing civilian control over national self-defense forces, Japanese media reports. The idea of civilian participation in military decision-making was fostered following the defeat in WWII.
This proposal, to amend current provisions and give more direct power to the Joint Staff Act, will require legislative change, the sources close to the Defense ministry told The Japan Times. The draft law is likely to be submitted to the National Diet as soon as the next week.
The initiative of the further erosion the post-WWII legislature in Japan allegedly comes from SDF personnel, both acting and former officers currently occupying lawmaking positions in the Diet.
Japan set to loosen control over military introduced post WWII – report
http://rt.com/news/234635-japan-military-civilian-control/
LDP seeks to reduce civilian control of Defense Ministry
Kyodo, Jiji, Staff Report
The Japan Times
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/02/22/national/defense-ministry-seeks-to-reduce-civilian-control/#.VOtA0fmsUfq
photo: ２０１４年１０月、航空自衛隊百里基地で行われた航空観閲式に出席した安倍首相（手前）
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防衛省、背広組優位を転換 「文官統制」規定廃止へ
共同通信
47NEWS
http://www.47news.jp/CN/201502/CN2015022101001770.html
防衛省が、内部部局（内局）の背広組（文官）が制服組自衛官より優位を保つと解釈される同省設置法の条文は不適切として、改正する方針を固めたことが２１日、分かった。設置法１２条は大臣が制服組トップに指示する際、内局の官房長、局長が大臣を補佐するなどとし、文官優位の規定となっていた。制服組や制服ＯＢの国会議員からの強い要求を受け入れた形だ。
３月上旬、通常国会に防衛省設置法改正案を提出する。１２条を改正するほか、分担してきた自衛隊の部隊運用（作戦）を制服組主体に改める「運用一元化」も盛り込む。