【今日头条】

China Urges Japan to Respect Neighbor's Concerns as Abe's drive to lift ban on collective self-defense makes progress ANCHOR: China is again urging Japan to respect the concerns of its neighboring countries as Tokyo pushes forward its attempt to expand Japan's military role. CRI's Xie Zhao has more. Reporter: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the call on Thursday at a press conference in Beijing. "Considering a series of negative developments on historical issues in Japan, Asian countries, including China, and the international community have reasons to be highly alert to Japan's real intentions and relevant developments." The comment comes after a Japanese government-appointed panel submitted a report expected to kick start wider discussion on removing the ban that has kept Japan from fighting abroad since its defeat in World War Two. Shunji Yanai chairs the Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for Security. "This report includes our advice that we should move forward to be able to implement the right of collective self-defence and to participate in the United Nations' collective security measures." Japan currently maintains military force only for self-defense. It has previously interpreted the war-renouncing Article 9 of its postwar constitution as saying that it cannot engage in what is known as collective self-defense. But the panel, which consists of 14 security experts, says the interpretation is improper, arguing that collective self- defense falls within the "minimum" defense allowed under the Constitution. The report submitted by the panel is considered as significant progress in Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's drive to expand the country's military role. Abe is scheduled to hold a press conference later, to announce the Japanese government's stance on the report. "With this report being submitted... I will further deliberate our response to this report in consultations with the Cabinet Legislation Bureau and the ruling party." If approved, the change could allow Japan to come to the defense of its allies and other countries, even if Japan itself is not under attack. The panel also recommended a set of criteria for Japan to engage in collective self-defense. But the specific standards have not yet been released. For CRI, This is Xie Zhao.