| Submit your comments on this article |
| East Asia |
| Japanese poll urges an end to pacifism |
| 2003-11-04 |
| Japan’s constitution should be rewritten to remove or amend pacifist safeguards imposed after the Second World War, according to a poll yesterday of candidates representing the country’s governing party. The poll by the Asahi newspaper showed that constitutional revision was favoured by almost 90 per cent of candidates from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which is expected to win this week’s general election comfortably. It also showed that some 60 per cent of candidates from the main opposition Democrats are in favour of revising the constitution, though not necessarily Article Nine, which prevents Japan from maintaining an offensive military capability. The poll did not specifically ask which part of the constitution should be changed, but it is understood that many LDP members, including Junichiro Koizumi, the prime minister, believe Article Nine should be changed. The article has been interpreted by successive governments as preventing Japan from exercising a right to collective self-defence - the use of force to counter an attack on a foreign ally. But that has been increasingly in doubt as Japan’s security situation has changed. Politicians and foreign policy analysts have become acutely concerned by the erratic behaviour of North Korea, which is openly pursuing nuclear weapons. Earlier this year, the defence minister said a pre-emptive attack on North Korea would be considered if a missile capable of reaching Japan was being made ready. In 1998, North Korea launched a missile over Japanese airspace, demonstrating its ability to hit Tokyo. The Japanese constitution renounces the right to make war and maintain an army. But yesterday’s poll indicates a growing consensus that this needs to be amended to enable Japan to play a greater role in regional security, particularly in the face of the threat from North Korea. Any revision is likely to be preceded by a debate about how Article Nine can be altered to reflect the changing international situation without moving too radically away from Japan’s special status as a non-militarist nation. In August, Mr Koizumi suggested that the LDP should revise the constitution, including Article Nine, by November 2005, his party’s 50th anniversary. America has pressed Japan to play a bigger role in security and some Japanese want the country to be able to exercise collective self-defence. Right-wingers say it is too reliant on the "umbrella" provided by the alliance with America and that it is time to become a "normal country" with a recognised military force to back its foreign policy. |
| Posted by:Bulldog |
| #18 As was mentioned above it is a different Japan than what was around in 1930. And Movies Are Your Best Entertainment MAYBE |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-11-4 8:03:46 PM |
| #17 The Chicoms have one foreign policy goal: to be the center of attention in Asia. +++ They play games with India over border skirmishes, attempting to undermine the governments of Nepal, Bhutan, and Sikkim, and encourage the Paks in Jammu & Kashmir. +++ They are one of the major sources of funding for insurgents in Assam, and contribute significantly to Myanmar's marxists. +++ They support Muslim insurgency in the Philippines, and also fund their own insurgents (there's been an increase in HUK activity over the last five years, all at the encouragement of the PRC). +++ They are the major player in the Spratley Islands dispute. +++ They constantly keep the pressure on Taiwan. The Japanese have reason to fear China, as well as North Korea. As others mentioned, Japan has the capability of building nuclear weapons, and has a proven launch capability (Japanese launch their own space satellites). Their army is mainly defensive, but could be modified quickly to develop an offensive capability. The Japanese could do two things, one diplomatically and one militarily, to put the pressure on China: one, develop a regional military and economic treaty organization including South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Australia; two, begin building a modest offensive capability that includes a division of Marines, and the acquisition of one of the US aircraft carriers being prepared for mothballs, such as the Kitty Hawk. Either action would send shock waves through China. Both together would really cause heads to roll in the PRC. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-11-4 7:45:18 PM |
| #16 The ChiComs have been dragging their feet with Kimmie. They had their chance of putting the screws to the NORKS, but they did not take the opportunity. Japan will provide the lever to get this NORK problem over and done with. The Chicoms have been playing games for too many years and their plan is going to bite them in the ass. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-11-4 6:27:36 PM |
| #15 Japan rearming,I say go for it.As was mentioned above it is a different Japan than what was around in 1930.They damn sure got the tech expertice,industry,and economy to do it and do it well. |
| Posted by: Raptor 2003-11-4 5:50:32 PM |
| #14 Winter's around the corner. NKorea doesn't have enough oil for heating, fuel, etc. It might be an interesting Christmas. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-11-4 5:28:29 PM |
| #13 I've got a bad cold, on some powerful pain medications that don't really work well together with the over-the counter cold remedies. I'm thinking weird things today, so bear with me. Wonder how a line of large towers, each equipped with BIIIIGGG speakers, all directed toward Kimmieland, each spewing non-stop WalMart commercials and such, would go over on the DMZ????? |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-11-4 4:16:29 PM |
| #12 Lemme see, Japan has a long history of high quality electronics, high quality manufacturing and uses nuclear power for a fair amount of its electricity. Hmm, how long does anyone think it will take Japan to enter the nuclear club if they wanted to? |
| Posted by: Chemist 2003-11-4 4:16:28 PM |
| #11 Yes. I dont think China wants a fully armed Japanese military. In fact I think they might still be having a few sleepless nights over it. Imperial Japan was not very nice during WWII -- not nice at all. As for NKor. I am not sure it would take much to push ole kimmie-boy over. I think the NK military might be getting kind of tired of the 'All praise Kim! All praise poofy-hair!' day and night. You can only take that so far. Especially when they 'hear' how things are in S. Korea. I dont think they can keep those 'rumors' out completely. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2003-11-4 2:40:28 PM |
| #10 Yank is right on. We're trying to use China to leverage Nkor, and the big leverage over China is the threat of full Japanese rearmament if the neighborhood isnt cleaned up. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-11-4 1:24:35 PM |
| #9 I'm not convinced they don't have them already, just unmentioned, like the Israelis. The no-nuke activists would go bananas until NK sends another (armed) missile on over |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-11-4 1:10:19 PM |
| #8 Couple of comments. First, the Japanese military is an awesome power in the region, but it has no force projection abilities so it truly is a self-defense force. This change might mean looking towards carriers and troop transports, procurements that will scare the living crap out of the neighborhood. Second, the threat alone is probably enough to get the Chinese to act on North Korea to prevent Japan's seeming need to change. Next thing you know the Japanese might neednuclear weapons and the Chinese certainly don't want that to happen. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-11-4 12:50:28 PM |
| #7 When a Japanese Defense Minister says "a pre-emptive attack on North Korea would be considered" best to listen, they have certain uh.... talents in this area. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-11-4 12:42:14 PM |
| #6 Dan, spot on observation. In budget, they are *second in the world*. Even the Japanese by and large don't realize this, being educated from an early age how "pacifistic" their nation is. |
| Posted by: Carl in N.H. 2003-11-4 11:56:58 AM |
| #5 "Earlier this year, the defence minister said a pre-emptive attack on North Korea would be considered if a missile capable of reaching Japan was being made ready. In 1998, North Korea launched a missile over Japanese airspace, demonstrating its ability to hit Tokyo" WTF??? Being made ready 5 yrs ago? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-11-4 11:33:51 AM |
| #4 It is kinda funny hearing that Japan should re-arm - Japan has one of the largest and most technically advanced militaries in the world. |
| Posted by: Dan 2003-11-4 11:07:12 AM |
| #3 Let them arm themselves. Get us out of Okinawa & mainland Japan. Let them deter Nkor. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2003-11-4 9:32:13 AM |
| #2 WWII has been over for more than 50 years. Their culture and political structure is different from the pre-WWII society. So why shouldn't Japan arm herself as any other normal nation does? If she wants to arm, so be it -- if she wants to stay un-'militaristic' (ie. dependent on others for her safety) again, so be it. |
| Posted by: rabidfox 2003-11-4 9:25:11 AM |
| #1 "though not necessarily Article Nine, which prevents Japan from maintaining an offensive military capability" That' a bit Clintonian is it not? Oh sure, they don't want an army to build an empire and all that...but let's be realistic here; isn't saying that you want a "defensive army" the same as saying you want an "army".. period? |
| Posted by: B 2003-11-4 7:28:05 AM |