The leader of Japan’s main opposition Liberal Democratic Party Shinzo Abe says he will change the current interpretation of the Constitution to allow Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense if he becomes prime minister.

Japan’s Asahi Shimbun daily reported on Tuesday that Abe made the remarks to U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, who is visiting Japan. The right to collective self-defense refers to the right under international law for a country to launch a counterattack if an ally is attacked.

Abe reportedly told Burns that he will change the interpretation of the Constitution regarding collective self-defense, adding the change would lead to a stronger alliance between the U.S. and Japan and thus contribute to regional stability.

Regarding the territorial disputes with China over the Senkaku Islands, which are known as Diaoyu in Chinese, Abe dismissed Chinese claims to the islands, saying Japan would neither yield nor respond to negotiations on the matter.