In 50 years of Japan-U.S. Security Treaty people didn't allow 'war-nation -- Akahata editorial, April 28

April 28 marked the 50th anniversary of the San Francisco Peace Treaty and the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty coming into effect.

Under these two treaties which were concluded in a de facto martial law situation, Japan technically became an "independent country," but it was incorporated into a military alliance with the United States, and became a "dependent country" with the United States controlling Japan's key parts of its foreign relations and economy.

In 1960, the security treaty was revised to the current one to include provisions on joint military operations between the U.S. and Japanese forces.

Unable to convince the public of the need for legislation

The text of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty remains unchanged, but the 1997 Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation transformed the treaty into one of allowing joint military operations between the two forces to be held even though there is no direct military attack on Japan.

The treaty's 50th anniversary coincides with the submitting of contingency ('war nation') bills by the Koizumi Cabinet to the current Diet session.

Contradicting its title, the "Bill to Respond to Armed Attacks," both the foreign minister and the Defense Agency director general have denied the probability of armed attacks on Japan. Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro, who advocates that legislating wartime laws was his "long standing task," can't explain the reason why it is needed now.

Voices critical of the bills, that "they are too anachronistic, inconsistent, and vague" and therefore are "defective," are being heard from even among those who basically support an emergency legislation.

Then, why is the Koizumi Cabinet rushing to enact such wartime bills?

It's because the U.S., the only super power with a desire to continue world domination with its military power, is putting strong pressure on Japan.

The U.S. Bush Administration has been arrogantly urging Japan to implement the legislation by appointing Richard Armitage, the key author of the October 2000 National Defense university report urging Japan to accept the right to collective self-defense and to enact wartime laws, as the deputy State Secretary.

The aim of the contingency bills is to make Japan capable of taking part in U.S.-launched wars in "situations in areas surrounding Japan" by responding to a reinforced security treaty system under the new Guidelines requirement.

For example, the contingency bill includes that an "armed attack on Japan is being predicted" as one of three possibilities of invoking the new law (an attack being predicable, or potential threat, or actual attack--ed.). Also, the bill calls for authorizing the prime minister to classify the "situation" and to order to mobilize (not only the Self-Defense Forces but also--ed.) the public.

That is why Koizumi in parliament has stated, "A situation in areas surrounding Japan can include possible armed attacks."

The wartime legislation turns Japan from a nation that refuses to take part in war into a nation willing to do so in order to cooperate with the United States in interventionist wars in Asia.

The United States has been wanting to turn Japan into a foothold for U.S. action abroad and to use the Japanese Self-Defense Forces as their auxiliary units since 50 years ago when it forced Japan to accept the security treaty and ordered Japan to rearm.

At the time, John Foster Dulles, who came to Japan as the U.S. government's special envoy to negotiate a peace treaty with Japan, urged Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru to pledge Japan's contribution to fighting as a member of the free world. It was to this end that the United States began to call on Japan to revise the Constitution of Japan right after the security treaty came into effect.

However, Japanese people have not allowed the Liberal Democratic Party government to enact wartime legislation and turn Japan into a war-fighting nation for fifty years.

Toward peaceful 21st century

The government's plan to build a war-fighting nation is unacceptable for Japanese people, who were resolved to build a society that cares for human rights and freedom in order to prevent the government from fighting wars again.

The wartime legislation, which forcibly mobilizes Japanese people for U.S. wars, clearly shows that the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty means much harm and no benefit to the people.

To concentrate the Japanese people's ambition for peace and human rights and foil the wartime bills will lead Japan to repeal the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and create a peaceful 21st Century. (end)