Beyond Rule of Principles

Japan does not export weapons. However, it will provide troops in a foreign country with bullets for guns. Does it make any sense?

The government of Japan decided to pass out ten thousands of bullets to South Korean troops in their activity as United Nations Mission in South Sudan. According to the government officials, it was based on a request from U.N. with concern of shortage of bullets for 5.56 millimeter guns in Korean troops. Japan is regarded as an only country that has the same type of bullets. Japanese government explained that it would definitely be an urgent humanitarian assistant.

In the U.N. Peacekeeping Operation Participation Act 1992, Japan can do material assistance to U.N. operation. However, former administrations have been rejecting to provide with weapons or bullets, even with a request from U.N. So, this was a major policy change for the government.

The fundamental restriction for weapons export has been “Three Principles on Weapons Exports” in 1967. That prohibited providing with weapons to Communist nations, countries with sanction by U.N. and in actual conflict. Although the principle was amended for not exporting to all countries in 1976, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda made a major change in 2011, which exceptionally paved the way for the export for the purpose of peace and humanitarian effort, or for international joint development and production.

It is unclear why the troops of South Korea became in short of bullets, and how is the situation in their operation area in South Sudan. The government of Japan is categorizing this case as another exception of the Three Principles without detailed explanation about those points. Accumulating exceptions without clear reasons is typical way for bureaucracy to castrate rule of law. This time, the government reiterated no time for consideration for assessment. Who can realize that Japan is restrictive on weapons export, while it is exporting ten thousands of bullets, anyway?

It is an irony that South Korea needs Japan’s help. There have been overwhelming arguments to protest Japan’s remilitarization in South Korea. However, providing with bullets for South Korean troops will definitely encourage remilitarization of Japan, because it will loosen its self-restriction. Criticizing Japan’s reinterpretation of the Constitution for allowing exercise of collective self-defense right, while demanding bullets for themselves, is nothing but a double-standard. South Korea at least needs to explain why they fell in a situation of shortage of bullets.