Ruling parties start talks to draft changes to Japan's postwar Constitution

The move comes as the LDP last month parted with its longstanding partner Komeito party, which has been reluctant to amend the war-renouncing Article 9, and teamed up with JIP that advocates a substantial change to the clause in light of tough security conditions. The LDP, which has long pursued a revision to the Constitution drafted by the U.S.-led occupation forces after World War II, and JIP plan to deepen their discussions on the amendment of Article 9 and on introducing an emergency clause that would give the government more power in the event of a major disaster or armed attack, according to lawmakers. The JIP, also known as Nippon Ishin, meanwhile, has proposed in a recent report on national defense and constitutional revision changes, which include deleting one of Article 9's paragraph banning the possession of military forces in a bid to bring an end to the country's "exclusive defense-oriented" posture.