Something Different from Strategy

The Meeting on Security and Defense Capability, a private consultative organization to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, on Monday drew a draft for National Security Strategy, which would be established for the first time in Japan. It recommended revision of the three principles on weapons export, which has been one of the benchmarks of Japan’s pacifism. To legalize activation of collective self-defense right would not be included in the strategy. Overall objection of Japan’s security would be defined as dealing with China and North Korea factors, regardless possible negative response from those nations.

The three principles were set by the Cabinet led by PM Eisaku Sato, in 1967. It consists of banning export of weapons to the countries with communist regime, with prohibition by a resolution of the United Nations and in an international conflict. Later, PM Takeo Miki, decided to expand the embargo to all kinds of export in 1976. However, with requirement of alliance, PM Yoshihiko Noda paved a way to export for contribution to peace and international cooperation, and for joint international development and production.

While the process of settling the principles had been for determining Japan’s standpoint as peaceful nation, the discussion to review them was mainly aimed to fulfill business requirements. To maintain the level of weapons technology, the meeting stepped into the sphere unleashed from shackles of the three principles. The government of Japan has recently been active in joint development of fighter jets and missiles with United States or United Kingdom.

The draft also included “positive pacifism,” which Abe has recently been mentioning as his new concept for international relations of Japan. With this initiative, Japan would seek further “contribution” to international security. By the way, it implied that Japan was enhancing its capability to deal with threats in the name of international peace and stability. “Actions to change status quo by power are growing recently,” the draft said indicating actual response to the potential threat from China and North Korea.

It is fair to say that most policies included in the strategy are mainly Abe’s personal agenda. In light of political tradition in Japan, it is unlikely that the strategy will survive after Abe’s term ends. In this meaning, the document will be something different from National Security Strategy in United States, which may not be changed so much by administrations. Whether the strategy will be succeeded would depend on security situation around Japan and what kind of administration would appear.