Strategic ODA

The Cabinet led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe unleashed Japan’s official development assistance to support force of foreign nations. Media reported the decision as another erosion of one of the fundamental principles written in the Constitution of Japan, which determined to renounce war as a sovereign right of nation and the threat or use of weapons as means of settling international disputes. The government regards the change of international aid as strategic use of resource.

New concept was written in revised Official Development Assistance Charter, decided by Abe Cabinet on Tuesday. Although Japanese government had been demanding its ODA to avoid being used for military purposes or urging international conflicts from the beginning of foreign aid in 1955, new charter required the government to judge the possibility of aid to foreign forces in case-by-case manner. The aid is still limited only for non-military purposes, such as civilian support or disaster relief. Providing with weapons or militarizing facilities through Japan’s ODA will still be prohibited.

Another news was introducing a concept of national interest in Japan’s foreign aid. New charter defined ODA as measure to reserve national interest of maintaining peace and security or achieving prosperity. Abe administration has been considering strategic use of ODA as a way of implementing its unique concept of “positive pacifism.” Strategic ODA was one the three pillars as well as exercising collective self-defense right or abolishing three restrictive principles of exporting weapons.

The talking point is whether the aid will not be used for military purposes after the project gets out of control of Japan. According to a report of Mainichi Shimbun, Japanese government reformed military hospital of Senegal in 2001, as one of the few examples of aid related to military. Under new charter, the decision will be made by the government of Japan based on strategic assessment of how the aid will contribute to Japan’s national interest. It may possible that Japan’s aid will be used for building military reinforcement, even if it will not be direct support for military procurement.

In the situation that Japan never supports any military projects, Japan can appeal that it will not take side in any conflict. Strategic aid means that Japan will support any country it likes at its disposal, creating enemies.

“Japan makes efforts to share comprehensive values such as freedom, democracy or rule of law,” the new charter reads. It is possible that the government of Japan is going to build a structure of containment against China by supporting other Asian nations. But, the resource of China to support foreign countries is bigger than that of Japan. Strategic use of foreign aid may lead to exacerbating relationship with China.