One Year from Reinterpretation

One year has passed, since new security legislation was established with unilateral discussion in the Diet, mainly initiated by Liberal Democratic Party led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Based on new provisions to enable Japan exercise broader role in the missions overseas, Japanese Ground Self-defense Force started practice for running up to other forces for support. But, it is still questioned whether Constitution of Japan had to be reinterpreted for that kind of military mission.

The Constitution strictly prohibits the Japanese using force in foreign territory. Japanese government had been recognized that JSDF would not be able to use force even for rescuing other forces in the same operation under attack, because it might be categorized as unconstitutional. The governmental officials did not apply self-defense to that kind of case, and turned down the option of broader interpretation of the Constitution with reason of not matching the trend of the world.

JGSDF has been stationing South Sudan for United Nations peace-keeping operation since 2011, when Democratic Party of Japan was leading the government. New security legislation enable Japanese force protects their camp cooperating with other troops, which may expose them to higher threat of enemy. Current expedition force to South Sudan will be replaced by eleventh dispatch in November.

Although new legislation allows those kinds of supportive operations, JGSDF has not actually exercised that ability in the field. While JSDF wanted to start practice of running-up support, Abe administration did not allow it until the end of election of House of Councillors in July, being afraid of backlash from negative opinion against constitutional reinterpretation. Whether JSDF would exercise new operation is restricted by political reasons.

New security legislation also allows JSDF providing United States Force with ammunitions or fuels in “significantly affecting situation,” in which security of Japan is deeply affected. “System was established. It is the time to act,” addressed Abe to highly ranked officers with JSDF last week. North Korea had launched ballistic missiles to Japan’s economic exclusive zone and had fifth nuclear test. Abe seemed to want to make stronger tie with U.S. Force against the threat from Korean Peninsula.

In spite of basic purpose of enhancing deterrence, new security legislation does not work for lowering tension of the region. While North Korea accumulates test of missile or nuclear explosion, China keeps on advancing to South or East China Sea. The promise of detailed explanation about the legislation has not been implemented by Abe administration for a year so far. The purpose of new legislation cannot be enhancing security of Japan or making greater contribution to world peace, but making legacy of breaking political taboo.