Reject Japan-Australia ACSA, another military alliance

Japan Press Weekly

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Reject Japan-Australia ACSA, another military alliance

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

The Japan-Australia Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) to allow the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the Australian forces to share military equipment and services has been passed by the Lower House and discussion in the Upper House are soon to start.

Australia is the first country, other than the United States, for Japan to conclude an ACSA with. The government claims that the pact is necessary because occasions are increasing for Japan-Australia cooperation, including participating in United Nations Peace-Keeping Operations (PKO) and participating in support in the Iraq War.

The fact is that by Japan concluding an ACSA with Australia, a military ally of the United States, it will turn the Japan-Australia relation into a de facto military alliance which will further strengthen the three-party military cooperation with the United States.

Military triangle

The Japan-Australia ACSA is a procedural agreement for Japan's SDF and Australian military forces to reciprocally supply necessary materials and services when they take part in joint exercises, humanitarian international aid, and "other" military-related activities.

By inserting the single word "other" in the text, the pact enables the SDF and the Australian forces taking part in the U.S.-initiated wars against Iraq and Afghanistan to reciprocally provide such supplies as water and fuel and transport services so that their support will be more effective in carrying out military operations.

Japan cannot legally conclude the Japan-Australia ACSA because its Constitution renounces war and parliamentary resolutions prohibit Japan from sending armed forces abroad.

To begin with, it is doubtful if Japan can conclude a military agreement with Australia. The Japan-U.S. ACSA concluded in 1996 is based on the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. No such basic treaty exists between Japan and Australia. It is absolutely unacceptable to conclude a procedural agreement that will pave the way for military cooperation.

‘Arms embargo' must preside

The ACSA seriously infringes on the three principles banning the export of arms by Japan to other countries. The ACSA between Japan-U.S. and between Japan-Australia excludes weapons and ammunition from the supply lists but includes parts and components in the lists. It means that instrument panels and indicators for military aircraft are approved while aircraft are unacceptable. It is illogical to nominally distinguish inseparable components of military aircraft just to argue that the pact does not conflict with the three principles on arms exports.

It is essential that the government cancel concluding the ACSA with Australia and strictly observe the three principles on arms exports, to which the peace principles of the Constitution are given concrete shape.

- Akahata, November 25, 2010