Abe's explanation in Parliament not convincing

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attends a news conference at his official residence in Tokyo on July 1, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

Hundreds of Japanese protest against Abe, collective defense

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made open explanation at Japan's Lower House and Upper House of Parliament respectively about his Cabinet's decision to allow the country to exercise collective self-defense right, but some local media and people were not buying it.

Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun made a comment on Abe's performance Wednesday, saying "the Prime Minister prefers to assault the questioner when answering questions."

During the Lower House Budget Committee session on Monday, Banri Kaieda, president of major opposition party the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), expressed strong opposition to the Cabinet's decision on the new interpretation, asking, "Will the risk of war be reduced when we lift the ban on the right of collective self- defense and build military strength? "

In response to this question, Abe did not give a straight answer, while on the contrary, he asked Kaieda provocatively, "As the leader of the biggest opposition party, you don't admit that expanding our own power means avoiding war at all. You are a real DPJ member."

As Abe just reiterated his usual arguments, some felt they were fooled by the hawkish leader, condemning his performance was too scripted.

"Abe only made his own point and always ended his speech by saying all are 'for protecting the people's lives and peaceful living'," a 56-year-old protester from Saga Prefecture said out of the Parliament on Tuesday.

"I felt as if I had listened to a tape. He (Abe) is making a fool of us."

Considering that lawmakers are representatives of people, Abe and his Cabinet members have responsibility to make explanation to them. Obviously, a one-day deliberation session in each chamber of the Parliament could hardly be considered adequate.

The opposition parties of Japan agreed on Wednesday that further thorough deliberations by the Parliament are an absolute must. The public also asked for another open discussions regarding this issue.