Ch. Salman Mehmood, Intern
Japan is moving away from its 1947 Constitution that has endured about 70 years without even a single amendment. Japan is considering to change Article 9 of its pacifist Constitution but the National Legislature of Japan, the National Diet, has not been able to take a clear decision. The house seems divided on whether Japan should give up its pacifism and begin to adopt a more assertive defence policy. Article 9 of Japan’s Constitution, has been a subject of intense debate since last few years. The Article states, “Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph; land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.” In 2018 Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had first mooted the idea to revisit Article 9, later also espoused by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and now Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is showing renewed interest in revising the constitution to reinterpret the peace clause.
The United States (US) entered the World War (WW) after the Pearl Harbour attack in 1941 by Japan’s air force, and later afflicted the Japanese population with the traumatic experience of atomic bombing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan’s 1947 Constitution was primarily written by American diplomats and Article 9 was added to restrict Japan from going to war. Article 9 was crucial because the Constitution reflected both Japan's commitment towards peace and its experience with war.
Japan has had an aggressive history before WW II, most notably the invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and the start of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War in 1937. Japan rapidly grew its territory throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia. It attacked Korea in 1910, Manchuria (northeastern China) in 1931, Indochina (present-day Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos) in 1940, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore in 1941, Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) in 1942 and British Burma (Myanmar) in 1942.
After the WW II, Japan rarely involved its Self Defence Forces (JSDF) in any ground battles. Similarly, Japan did not consent to place an army contingent under International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, as it was constrained by the pacifism of its Constitution. Japan, however, contributed economically towards reconstruction projects in Afghanistan. After the US troop withdrawal, Japan has continued assistance to Afghanistan. In 2022, it allocated US$25 million to improve infrastructure in 165 schools (rehabilitation centers, class rooms and other facilities) granted $3 million to upgrade the Salang Tunnel Project, and provides $64 million as humanitarian and development aid.
With its membership of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) in 2007 along with US, Australia, and India; Japan has begun to participate in Joint Naval Force exercises to counter China in the Asia Pacific region. In 2019, $1.9 trillion worth of US trade was conducted with Asia Pacific region. Both Japan and China have claims in East China Sea and Japan shares the QUAD members’ concerns about China. The stated aim of QUAD is to ensure “Free and open Indo-Pacific,” an idea first mentioned by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2016 during the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) held in Kenya. Similarly, Japan may also join AUKUS, a new trilateral alliance consisting of Australia, the UK and the US, that aims mainly to strengthen security and defence co-operation between these states against China.
Japan has also started spending more on its defence budget and intends to spend 43 trillion yen (US$330 billion) on defence over the next five years. Its defence expenditure will reach 9 trillion yen (US$66 billion) in 2027, equivalent to 2% of Japan's GDP in 2023, which means that Japan may not meet its 2% GDP target in 2027, while still being on track to become the world's third-largest military spender. Japan is incurring huge expenditures on the development of modern military technology and advancement of its Navy and Aviation forces. It is buying aircraft carriers, fighter jets and anti-missile defence system from US and other countries like Italy and the UK. It is also investing in Ballistic Missiles and in advancement of Maritime security. Several reasons are being discussed by analysts for Japan’s decision to broaden its defence policy in 2022. US supports the new defence policy which mentions China, North Korea and Russia as reasons for concern for Japan. Last year, North Korea had launched 37 ballistic missiles making Japan feel defenseless despite deployment of US forces on the Japanese soil. The Taiwan issue, if it heats up, is too close to Japan for its comfort. Russia is being viewed as a threat after Russian-Ukraine war.
The debate to modify or expunge Article 9 thus assumes significance. Japan is preparing itself, with obvious approval from the US, for potential conflict in the Asia Pacific region, just as the US is strengthening India’s capacity and capability to play a frontline role in Asia Pacific. However, the ASEAN countries, such as the Philippines and Malaysia who suffered Japanese occupation during WW II, might be worried about Japan's military reorientation. Japan is not a permanent member of the UN Security Council but has been aspiring to become one. Policy experts in Japan wish to extend their country’s foreign Policy beyond its relationship with the United States and have a more proactive say in the world affairs.
Japan's move away from pacifism could also have broader implications for global peace and security, as it would lead to a shift in the international security landscape and may contribute to increased tensions between the US and China, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, as it responds to perceived threats from China and North Korea.