I Want To Break Free

Article IX of the Constitution of Japan is a symbol of the Japanese as a pacifist nation. The Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, however, reiterates his intention to change the provision. The reason in his words is quite simple. He says he wants to change the name of the Self-defense Force into the National Defense Force. Analyzing what he thinks, there would be two other reasons at least: resentment against occupation of the United States and breaking free from genuinely defensive situation of the country.

The article conditionally renounces its use of force, saying “the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.” Abe in a TV interview last Saturday questioned this provision and told “If Japan does not use force as means of settling international disputes, there would be an argument that we cannot join in measures of collective security.” There must have been a possibility of use of force by the United Nations against North Korea, which continues provocation with development of missile and nuclear weapons technology.

This was recognized as another step-up of the Prime Minister toward a militarized country. The government of Japan has been self-restrictive not to discuss the possibility of joining UN Force, because the force had not been organized any time in the past. Abe emphasized the need to prepare for a possible case of organizing UN Force, while the government has been postponing the discussion.

True purpose of his positive attitude toward expanding military role can be explained as his intention to accumulate facts of military role expansion enough to justify the constitution amendment. After making a situation in which the constitution does obviously not match, he will appeal to the public that “The constitution is out of date.”

On the background of his aggressive military policy, there is a historiography that Japan has been contained in a jail with ball and chain as a prisoner of the World War II. Having offensive force, which has been severely restricted, is a symbol of freedom for him. That is an explanation of his insisting slogan of “getting rid of post-war regime.”

Abe also seems to be extremely frustrated with the intimidation of North Korea. He has no toleration on the abduction of Japanese citizens, regarding it as an act of aggression on Japan’s sovereignty. If military attacks to North Korea are justified by an international authority, he will be eager to join it to collapse the North’s regime.

Generally speaking, supports to Abe’s aggressive policy is growing larger in Japan than at the time of his first administration. China should not accelerate this tendency by the intimidation around the Southwestern Islands including Senkaku. US also need to be careful to endorse Abe’s policies.