Members of the Japanese Cabinet have approved a new national security policy. They've reinterpreted the Constitution to enable the country to use its right to collective self-defense. So, personnel will be able to help allies under attack.
Past administrations maintained the Constitution would allow the use of force only if Japan was attacked directly. The new interpretation will permit the use of a minimum amount of force to defend a closely-related country under attack.
Cabinet members say the right should be limited to when there are clear dangers that Japan's existence is threatened and the rights of its citizens are fundamentally overturned. They say Japan may use force when there are no other appropriate means to repel an attack to protect the country and its citizens.
◆reinterpreted 再解釈する、解釈を変更する
◆personnel 人員、兵員
◆ally 同盟国
◆administration 政権
◆interpretation 解釈
◆overturn ひっくり返す
◆repel 撃墜する
