Best Friend Forever

The governments of Japan and United States released the interim report of Guidelines for U.S.-Japan Security Defense Cooperation on Thursday. The most significant update of the guidelines this time is broadening the area that Japanese Self-defense Force can operate in supporting U.S. Forces. However, that Japan can participate in U.S. wars does not necessarily mean that it will do that. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe does not look like willing to risk his political asset by doing most Japanese really do not want. U.S. does not really expect Japan to do that, anyway. After all, the message of the guidelines is “Best friend forever!”

Both governments kept on updating the guidelines, since they established them in 1978. Although they were mainly assuming direct attack to Japan at the beginning in the environment of the Cold War, peripheral contingency was added to the guideline in the review in 1997. Potential threat had changed from Soviet Union in Cold War to China in unstable situation in Taiwan Strait or Korean Peninsula. After experiencing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, operative area for Japanese force will expand to all around the world in the review this time.

Current guidelines have three categories for cooperation of both forces, which are peace, periphery contingency and war. New guidelines will integrate them into one for seamless operations. It is a reflection of requirement of guidelines for “gray zone,” which would not be categorized in those three. Supposed cooperation includes logistic support behind battlefront, reconnaissance, attack on near-by U.S. vessels in drill, missile defense and maritime security.

The argument of the renewal is that it will erode principle of the Constitution of Japan that has been interpreted to be prohibiting use of force beyond the line of exclusive defense. Although the interim report does not include clear wording of “collective self-defense,” it is going to appear in the final version. The reason is clear. Abe administration has been persuading the public that collective self-defense is necessary for Japan-U.S. cooperation, or security and existence of Japan.

Well, will Japan exercise collective self-defense as soon as the guidelines are revised? The answer is no. Abe has been confirming that he will not go beyond exclusive defense, because it will definitely cause steep down of his supporting rate jeopardizing his administration. Told ya. Abe has been taking advantage of U.S.-Japan alliance for his personal political agenda of unleashing Japanese force.