Article: Japanese missile defense bill expected to pass upper house


AP Worldstream
07-22-2005
Dateline: TOKYO
Japan's upper house of Parliament was to vote Friday on legislation giving the defense chief the authority to shoot down incoming missiles without approval from the prime minister or Cabinet.

The bill passed the lower house last month, and was expected to be approved by the upper house.

Japan's postwar pacifist constitution renounces the use of force to settle international disputes, but Tokyo has recently become increasingly concerned about possible threats from North Korea.

Tokyo is jointly researching a missile defense system with the United States, and Defense Agency chief Yoshinori Ono said Tuesday that Washington had agreed to let Japan ...

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