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Removal of Article 9 may increase tension in Asia: Australian professor

Fifteen Japanese and Australian scholars studying international relations participated in a joint workshop entitled "Searching for Equitability and Peace in the Post 9/11 World" at Nanzan University in Nagoya City last September. It was held with the aim of finding a path for Japan and Australia to follow in order to create a more secure Asia-Pacific region and a more just international order.

The workshop discussion was published recently in a booklet entitled "Some Considerations Regarding Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution" both in Japanese and English. Nanzan University Assistant Professor Michael Seigel proposed the workshop and compiled the booklet. He is fluent in Japanese with a long experience of living in Japan.

"Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution is well known among international relations pundits. The Australian scholars who attended the workshop had apparently discussed Article 9 before. They showed keen interest in the present debates on it." said Seigel. He went on to say as follows:

I am really worried about the move in the Diet to revise the Constitution. Post-war Japan has been protected by Article 9. Japan could not send its troops to Vietnam for the sake of the alliance with the U.S. as Australia did. What's more, since Article 9 stands for Japan's position toward other countries, its revision will not be just a domestic issue; it will affect every other nation.

Japan spends for its military 1.6 times more than China does. It also heightens tension with its neighboring countries by its leader's visits to Yasukuni Shrine. In the eyes of Japan's neighbors, removal of Article 9 would be tantamount to an event in which Japan carries out enormous arms buildup overnight. It is my concern that this would increase tensions in the whole of Asia.

We have been calling for disarmament since the time of the Vietnam War, but it has not materialized yet not only because of politicians' interests but also of the fears that people may have about their neighboring countries.

In order to get rid of the fears, what is needed is for every nation to introduce in their Constitution a provision like Japan's Article 9 and to remove threats against other countries. In that way, I believe, it will be possible for them to get rid of fears regarding the region and to jointly make efforts for disarmament.
- Akahata, April 12, 2006