Rhetoric for Justification

When a man wants to convince others in an unpopular concept, he may use rhetoric. In a speech to the Council of North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Brussels, Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, inserted a lot of rhetoric on why Japan needed to change interpretation of its constitution. Although most nations are ignoring which way Japan will choose, that reinterpretation may change the shape of Japan forever. The world must be aware of what he is saying.

In the speech, Abe insisted on that various kinds of threats were spreading to the world. “Weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missile, terrorism, cyber attacks immediately go beyond borders. Any one nation cannot be secured by itself,” told Abe. By indicating potential threats from North Korea and China, Abe tried to justify rebuilding security power of Japan.

However, it has been true that no country could protect by itself from the time of ancient Rome. There is nothing new in its truth. If one admits Japan’s necessity of military growth with that reasoning, that will be too simple to realize the situation in Asia or too close to Abe administration.

Abe also misguided NATO about current situation of security. “In current interpretation of Japanese Constitution, Japan’s Self-defense Force cannot protect an American aegis vessel in charge of missile defense in international sea around Japan,” explained Abe. It was simply wrong and Japan could protect it. There was a stated view of the government in 2003 that attacks on American force around Japan might be recognized as the beginning of attacks on Japan, and therefore Japan could be dealing with it. Denying what Japan can do is for selling his idea.

Abe also told that Japan’s Self-defense Force operating in peace keeping operation of the United Nations cannot protect NATO force attacked by guerilla troops. PKO basically means activities in peaceful circumstances. It is different from peace building or intervention, in which Japan would not participate. But even in an operation in non-combat zone, JSDF brings firearms to protect themselves. If NATO troops in a joint operation were attacked, JSDF will help the partners to protect themselves. Japan can actually help NATO under current legislatures.

Criticizing China, Abe said “There are frequent attempt of unilateral change of status quo by force in East and South China Seas.” From China’s viewpoint, it is Japan that changed status quo in Senkaku Islands by nationalizing them two years ago. Europe is sober enough to take a neutral position between China and Japan, even how Japan would depict China as evil as Russia invaded into Ukraine.