Japan Press Weekly

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2015 September 30 - October 6 TOP3 [POLITICS]

Abe used China ‘threat’ as a tool to ram through war laws

The government and the ruling parties in chorus used the “threat” of China as a justification to bulldoze through the security legislation. This position actually poses a threat to people in Japan, Akahata on September 30 pointed out.

Quite a number of the people certainly have concerns over China’s arms buildup and advances into the East and South China Seas, but militarily preparing to respond to military threats from other countries will only help bring about a never-ending vicious circle.

Until debates on the war bills began in the House of Representatives in May, Prime Minister Abe was boasting of his ability to improve Japan-China relations. He had not yet labeled China as a threat to the security of Japan at the time of Lower House deliberations.

However, immediately after the House of Councilors entered into discussions on the bills, he began criticizing China by saying, “It increased its defense budget by 41 times over the past 27 years and is now conducting large-scale land reclamation in the South China Sea.” Many ruling party Dietmembers also tried to openly instill into the minds of the public an image of China about to attack Japan.

This turnaround was obviously a method the Abe government adopted to intimidate the general public into silence because public support for the government-proposed security bills was not increasing as the Cabinet expected. The Abe government, instead, was losing public support following the forcible passage of the bills through the Lower House.

Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Daimon Mikishi at an Upper House committee meeting held on August 5 asked the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry about economic relations between Japan and China. Minister Miyazawa Yoichi referred to the fact that more than 40,000 Japanese corporations are operating in China and that China is Japan’s largest trading partner, surpassing the United States. The minister said, “China has become a very important market for Japan.”

Former Chairman of Itochu Corporation Niwa Uichiro, who also served as Japanese ambassador to China, on September 15 explained to the press about the Chinese way of thinking, which is that the economy moves politics, and said that Japan-China relations are moving in the direction of an easing of tensions. He went on to say, “If both sides start physically claiming the right over disputed territories while being hostile to each other, they will have no other choice but to turn to military options. It is important to find ways to not resort to arms but to consider what they should do to promote mutual friendship.” He expressed grave concern about the security legislation.

The JCP is calling for the establishment of a framework in Northeast Asia to resolve disputes through peaceful negotiations.

Past related articles:
> FM: Japan doesn’t regard China as ‘threat’ [August 23, 2015]
> Shii calls for creating peaceful community in Northeast Asia [November 13, 2013]