Rhetoric for Rhetoric

Policy discussion on the Diet is reaching a peak in this annual session. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe keeps on defending his agenda as necessary for the future of Japan. The opposite parties criticize that Abe administration is leading this nation to wrong direction. So, people need a discussion realizing which is right or wrong. However, Abe derails the discussion in a bureaucratic way.

One of the hottest issues in this session is security reform. Abe administration is going to submit legislations, including exercising of collective self-defense right. To the question of Katsuya Okada, President of Democratic Party of Japan, Abe argued that Japanese Self-defense Force could participate in the operation of sweeping floating mines in Hormuz Strait. Sweeping floating mines is internationally recognized as an act of adversary and Japanese government has refrained from doing it. Abe tries to change the policy under new concept of collective self-defense.

The problem is his reasoning. Abe raised Japan’s economic dependence on crude oil from Middle East. “Sweeping floating mines in Hormuz Strait will meet the condition of exercising collective self-defense right, which determines use of force by Self-defense Force as limited only in the time when people’s right for life, liberty or pursuit of happiness is threatened,” explained Abe.

If this explanation stands, Japan can send its troops to anywhere its national interest exists. Japan’s self-sufficiency of wheat is 11% and soybean is 7%. If Japan feels threatened in the supply of those agricultural products, it will be able to send troops to protect transportation network in the world. Even an aggression to other nations is possible, according to Abe. The Japanese will no longer be a pacifist nation.

On relocation of Futenma U.S. Marine Air Base to Henoko coastal area of Nago city, Abe stressed his position not to change current policy even in the firm opposition of the people in Okinawa. “I will stay the course with my effort to get consensus in Okinawa,” told Abe. However, Abe keeps on rejecting to meet with Governor of Okinawa, Takeshi Onaga. How do you have communication with Okinawa without discussing this issue with the governor, Prime Minister?

While expecting profit of major corporations to be distributed to mid or small size companies, Abe argued that his economic theory was not trickle-down theory. So, what is your economic policy? His answer was “creating positive circulation.” This was not the answer to the question. Answering a question with changing question discretely is a way bureaucrats do NOT answer a question. Abe’s discussion is always hijacked by his bureaucratic staffs.