Filled with Rhetoric

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a cabinet decision on a set of legislatures for enhanced security on Thursday. They included new International Peace Supporting Act and amendments for existing ten laws related to security. While Abe insisted on their necessity for Japanese citizens surrounded by “unusual security situation,” he could not show the way for reliable model of securing Japan. Explanation of Abe was not sufficient for convincing the Japanese people in their future.

Abe began his press conference after the cabinet decision with the words of determination for eternal peace. “Seventy years ago, we Japanese made a resolution. ‘We must not repeat devastation of war,’” told Abe in his justification for his conservative political agenda. It was his resistance against harsh criticisms from the leftists who called the legislation “war waging laws.”

It is undeniable that Japan would be approaching someone’s war with those legislations. One of the laws allows Japan exercising collective self-defense in a situation that threatens Japan’s existence. Although the government assumes a case, in which U.S. vessels patrolling around Japan was attacked, it is theoretically possible that Japan will join an international military operation in Persian Gulf to secure tankers transporting crude oil to Japan. They may interpret that Japan’s existence is dependent on oil from Middle East.

Seamless preparation and measures for every kind of events are key concepts for the legislatures. “It is time when no country can protect itself by itself. Threats easily go beyond the borders,” Abe stressed in the conference. It is always true and nothing new. Isolation does not prevent a country from others’ aggression. Threats passed the borders even in the time of World War I. That makes no sense as a reason why Japan needs to reinterpret its constitution to exercise collective self-defense.

Abe also emphasized crisis of Japan-U.S. alliance. “When U.S. military receives attack in their patrol around Japan, Japan can do nothing for it. This has been Japan’s standpoint,” told Abe. It was incorrect. Japan could be supporting U.S. as long as it is an activity for exercising individual self-defense. Even how much Abe compliments, U.S. will never be involved in a war over territorial administration of Senkaku, anyway.

Men and women will reach danger more than ever with these laws. “They are having hard practices. They swore that they would not regard danger,” Abe reiterates. He looks to be saying that’s why he does not hesitate in making laws for use of force. Life is too light before this prime minister.