Going to Offense

This is not about defense, but offense. National Security Council of Japan interpreted the Constitution of Japan as its Self-defense Force was allowed using force in collective security measures with a resolution of United Nations Security Council. Although discussion in leading parties have been limited to collective self-defense, which was measures for defending Japan, the interpretation extended Japan’s military action to the realm of preemptive attack on a nation regarded as disturbing international peace and security. Japan looks to be getting out of exclusively defense-oriented security policy.

The interpretation was included in hypothetic answers list in the Diet. To a question asking whether Self-defense Force could use its force as a collective security measure, the answer would be “Yes, it can.” NSC determined it as acceptable within provisions in the Constitution, if it would fulfill “new three conditions” for use of force. The conditions were apparent crisis that would threaten existence of the state and fundamentally overturn life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of the people by offense on other countries closely related to Japan, absence of alternative measures, and limitation to minimum use.

The officials might have imagined that it would be impossible for Japanese Self-defense Force to retreat from act of collective self-defense in Korean Peninsula, in case North Korea made aggression, immediately when it turns to be a field of collective security measures with U.N. resolution. To stay in international effort to contain the North, they thought the interpretation should be available for collective security measures.

Post-war Japanese constitution strictly prohibits use of force in overseas. Japanese force has been defined to be only available for defending Japan. Joining collective security measures means going beyond the line forever. If Japan participates in such an international measure, it will be the first step to be a war-fighting nation, as it once was before the World War II. Obviously, it is long-time ambition for the revisionists in Japan including Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe.

Unleashing Japan will bring Asia-Pacific region serious consequences. It will complicate Japan-South Korea relationship by stimulating anti-Japan sentiments in South Korea, if Japan considers sending troops to the peninsula. Trilateral alliance among Japan, South Korea and United States will become more vulnerable than ever. China will use Japan’s move as a cause of its enhancement of military capability. Instability in East China Sea will grow. Moreover, do not forget that those revisionists still uphold a sense of retaliation to U.S., which fatally eroded sovereignty and ethnic pride of Japan.