Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the seventh meeting of the Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for Security at the Prime Minister's Office.
During the meeting, the members of the Panel exchanged their views.
At the start of the meeting, the Prime Minister received a report from Chairman Shunji Yanai. The Prime Minister then said in his opening address,
“First, I would like to express my deep gratitude for the submission of this report. 
It has been over one year since this Panel was reopened in February of last year, and it has actually been seven years since this Panel was first formed in May 2007. I would like to express my gratitude once more for the intensive discussion and many valuable opinions we have received over the years from everyone on the Panel regarding the ideal form of the legal basis for security. I believe that you have faced many challenges to date. I would like to once again express my heartfelt gratitude and respect for the discussion in this Panel and the work you have done to compile this report.
Up to this point, I have also attended each session of this Panel, and paid great attention to the opinions of each member. This Panel has raised specific scenarios and held lively discussion on the various issues that are relevant to the ideal form of the legal basis for the security of this country based on changes to the security environment surrounding Japan. Not only did this Panel submit beneficial proposals to the Government, but you also heightened the interest of the public in this issue through active external communications about your discussions, leading to the vitalization of debate on this topic. As such, I believe you have produced an extremely significant achievement. I am certain that the report you have submitted today will also play a major role in promoting understanding domestically and abroad, and in further deepening discussion on the subject.
Having received this report, later on today I will hold a meeting among the four ministers of the National Security Council, and then this evening the Government will announce the basic direction for proceeding with discussions. Following that, I would like to discuss what actions we should take, while taking into consideration the opinions of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau and holding consultations with the ruling parties. The principle of security is that we must ensure the safety of Japan and resolutely protect the lives, freedoms, happiness, and peace of the public under any circumstances. I am resolved to advance serious discussions with the firm conviction that we will create the solid legal basis necessary for this.
In light of the submission of the report today, I would like for this meeting to be a final opportunity to receive your valuable opinions. Thank you.”