ＦＯＸ新聞館　全般

Japan's defence upgrade should be applauded
(South China Morning Post 2007.01.09 Editorial)


Japan's upgrading today of its defence agency to a fully fledged ministry
symbolically moves the nation another step away from the pacifism of its 1947
constitution towards the status of a normal military power. That a ministry of
defence will be established in Tokyo six decades after the demise of the
imperial Japanese army may seem threatening to Asian countries invaded
last century.

While such concerns are understandable, those countries should accept that
time has moved on and amid a new global security environment, Japan has a
valuable role to play, as well as a right to defend its shores. Japan is, after all,
a responsible member of the global community. As the world's second-
biggest economy, it has lived up to the expectations created by being a
generous donor to developing nations.

Amid the global thirst for stability, another dimension has emerged, one that
the government is eager to embrace but has been forced to move slowly
towards in light of the sensibilities of its neighbours: peacekeeping and
reconstruction. Such operations require military expertise and Japan is one of
the few nations able to provide the necessary expensive resources.

Tentative first steps were taken two years ago when soldiers were sent to
tsunami-hit Indian Ocean nations to help victims and, later, when troops participated in reconstruction work in Iraq. Both times, because of Japan's pacifist laws, approval had to be gained from parliament so that the overseas military operations could take place.
Moving the defence agency out of the prime minister's office and elevating it to ministry status does not mean Japan will immediately be able to respond
more quickly to international emergencies - that will require changes to the
constitution. With Prime Minister Shinzo Abe making constitutional reform his
top priority, though, the path is being cleared for such an eventuality. That will
be welcome in a world which often struggles to find the manpower and
equipment needed to deal with large-scale disasters.

But international assistance is only part of Japan's need to revamp its military
system. Most pressing is the desire to counter the threat posed by North
Korea. Pyongyang's firing of a ballistic missile over Japan in 1998 and its
testing of a nuclear device three months ago has spurred the government to
strengthen its defence capabilities.

The government's latest white paper on defence indicated that the transition
of the defence agency to a ministry was aimed at enhancing and
strengthening "the response to emergency situations" and "to be able to work
proactively for the peace and stability of the international community on
Japan's own initiatives".

Such objectives are the right of any nation and Japan is going about
achieving them in a sensitive manner. This is a welcome sign that should be
applauded, not treated with suspicion.



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