Difference from Two Weeks Ago

Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, was grilled by lawmakers in his first appearance to the National Diet since he announced his intention to consider reinterpretation of the Article IX of the Constitution for making exercise of collective self-defense right possible. Exposed to detailed questions on how Japanese Self-defense Force could be more active in restriction of the Constitution, Abe extended his idea beyond the border that former administrations had been keeping. His expansionism, in addition to revisionism, is getting unpopular to the public.

Two weeks ago, Abe stressed his responsibility of protecting the Japanese on a United States vessel escaping from conflict in overseas. “With current interpretation of the Constitution, Japanese Self-defense Force cannot help your mothers and kids. I want you to think about it,” told Abe in the press conference. He also repeated that the force could not help young Japanese in peacekeeping operation in emergency of suffering from armed force.

His explanation was changed, as long as his answer in the Diet was concerned. “Even though no Japanese are on board, we need to protect U.S. vessel attacked by a third party, because Japanese and U.S. Force cannot make an evacuation plan distinguishing vessels with Japanese from those with no Japanese,” told Abe in the discussion of Budget Committee in the House of Representatives on Wednesday. A beautiful story of a political leader being a superman standing up for protecting his people has changed into a comic of a poor businessman flattering his boss with loyalty of helping him at any cost.

In addition, he turned down his implementation at the press conference that Japan would never be involved in foreign battles such as Iraq War or Gulf War. In the discussion of the committee, Abe revealed his intention to ease the restriction “It should be a talking point to make clear of the definition of integration with use of force by foreign troops,” told Abe to the questions.

Current interpretation restricts Japanese Force from removing floating mines until battle is ceased. Abe also questioned to that. “Is it right for us not to join in an international effort of removing mines floating in Hormuz Strait, despite a lot of Japanese ships need to pass?” he told. But most arguments look his story as unrealistic, because Japanese ships would not pass the strait while battles continue. Abe simply wants to join the battle anyway, even through removing mines.

Although Abe might not be warmongering person, he firmly insists on making his legacy of paving the way to reinterpret the Constitution. That is why this is called his personal agenda.