Japanese Cabinet Legislation Bureau has given the green light to lift the ban on the Right to Collective Self-defense.

Kyodo News reports that although in the past the cabinet's legal advising body has generally blocked revisions to the constitution, it has passed a draft revising the constitution's stance on the matter. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is keen to reach an agreement with his party's ruling coalition partner so he can secure cabinet approval before the Diet ends on June the 22nd.

"In regards to the collective safety, I want to say, the self-defense forces will not be sent abroad for combat. Even though we are able to exercise the right to collective self-defense, it is forbidden by the Constitution to send forces abroad." said Shinzo Abe, Japanese Prime Minister.

On Tuesday, coalition partners in the Japanese government held talks on scenarios where the use of collective self-defense could be permissible. Despite the LDP's push for Cabinet approval of the revision by this summer, the New Komeito Party fears that there is no mechanism to prevent Japan from overusing the right to collective self-defense. The New Komeito Party says the draft submitted by the ruling party is unacceptable and is calling for more debate.

Based on the current interpretation of Japan's Constitution, Japan cannot exercise the right to collective self-defense, or defend an ally under armed attack. The constraints of Article 9 forbids the use of force as a means of settling international disputes and also prohibits Japan from maintaining an army, navy or air force.