Interested People Speak

Officially telling “It’s up to you,” the Americans keep on saying “You should, or should not, do this and do that” over collective self-defense or amendment of the Constitution of Japan. As long as it is raised by someone who has interests in Japan’s security policy, the argument would not be an national discussion in the United States. However, policy wonks in this issue in Japan like to say that “America” is saying this and saying that, and that’s why we need to do this and do that. After all, the Japanese cannot decide what they want to do, even how the Americans want them to do it.

A long time U.S. diplomat to Japan, Kevin Maher, recommended Japan in an article of Yomiuri Shimbun to change current interpretation of the Constitution on exercise of collective self-defense right of Japan. “Armed Chinese vessels are hanging around Senkaku Islands. While Japan needs to enhance its own defense capability, it is more effective for Japan to reinforce defense capability and deterrence by operating with U.S. Since ships with Aegis system, submarines and F35 fighter jets are operating together sharing information, it would be a great disturbance for Japan to maintain the interpretation that it cannot do anything without an attack on Japan’s Self-defense Force,” told him.

Maher was fired by the State Department after his harsh criticisms on people in Okinawa was revealed by news reports. Running a consultant firm around Washington, D.C., he would have critical interests in Japan’s foreign policy toward U.S. If Japan raised warnings against China and increased purchase of security devices from U.S., it is leading to his benefit. That is one thing.

A Professor of Harvard University, Joseph Nye, on the other hand, recommended Japan not to amend the Constitution to exercise collective self-defense right in a symposium held in Tokyo International University. In his reasoning, Japan already possesses the right of collective self-defense right under the Charter of the United Nations. For him who studies how to make the situation in East Asia stable, it is unfavorable for Japan to stimulate China and deteriorate security situation in the region. So, it is quite natural for Nye to restrain Japan from making unnecessarily bold action.

Having said those things, the officials of the Government of Japan keeps on asking silly questions that “Is it ok for Japan to do nothing at the moment when U.S. ships operating with us is attacked?” And the opposite parties are arguing such trivial things as whether they should amend the Constitution or change the interpretation of its provisions. To tell one reasonable answer, Japan does not need both. It can help U.S. ships without any constitutional amendment or reinterpretation of it.