Japan's security bills signal offensive change
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With Japan's lower house of parliament giving the green light to two controversial security bills on Thursday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is one step closer to his ambition of reversing the nation's self-imposed ban on exercising the right to coll
Under the security bills, which are still subject to approval by Japan’s upper house of parliament, Japan would be able to send its troops abroad for the first time since World War II, and its Self-Defence Forces could fight “under certain conditions” even if Japan itself is not attacked.
Hence, it is crystal clear that if passed the security bills would signal a change in Japan’s defence policy from “defensive” to “offensive”.
Many schemes
Against the backdrop that Japan has not yet fully owned up to its militarist past and Abe is leading the country with ultra-right ideologies, the world has good reason to question the Japanese leader’s real intention in forcing through the security bills.
Yet the security bills are just one of the many schemes Abe is employing to break the limitations imposed by Japan’s pacifist Constitution.
Since he took office in 2012, Abe has been trying to legitimise Japan’s “remilitarisation” as an important step toward giving his country a greater international profile.
What Abe has been manoeuvring in Japan’s political field poses a serious threat to the post-war international order. For the lesson of the war to be truly learned, the world should remain alert to this ill-tendency in Japan and do more to push the country back onto the right track again.
Abe’s ambition to cultivate a more “aggressive” Japan has
also invoked deep concerns
among its neighbours, China and South Korea included, and will only undermine efforts to repair ties.
Abe should also be reminded that his security bills are unpopular among his own countrymen. The majority of Japanese do not want to see Japan being dragged into conflicts around the globe, which means a growing defence budget and more pressure on the Japanese economy.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the victory in the war against fascism, and the whole world is hoping Japan will show real repentance for its militarist past and contribute more to regional peace and stability.
For the island country to become a respected international and regional player, Abe really should not walk on the wrong road any further.
