Japan Press Weekly

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2016 August 3 - 9 [POLITICS]

Defense White Paper spreads misleading information on war legislation

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

The Defense Ministry on August 2 released its white paper titled “Defense of Japan 2016”, the first annual paper since the enactment of the unconstitutional national security legislation. The paper mentions the enactment and enforcement of the war legislation in its opening essay and stresses the war laws’ “historic importance” in a chapter describing the legislation.

In a bid to dispel public concern about Japan’s exercise of the right to collective self-defense, the paper claims that Japan will never become involved in other countries’ wars. However, it is totally misleading to deny the inherent danger of the war legislation.

In July 2014, the Abe Cabinet abandoned the conventional government interpretation of the pacifist Constitution and approved the decision to enable Japan to use the collective self-defense right. In September 2015, the ruling coalition forced through the Diet the war legislation which legalizes the exercise of that right. The latest white paper insists that the security legislation will help to increase the deterrent effects and further lessen the risk of Japan coming under attack.

In the first place, Japan’s exercise of the right to collective self-defense means that even if Japan is not under military attack, at the government’s own judgment, Japan will use armed force against a third country which is at war with Japan’s allies such as the United States.

In the Diet interpellation of unsworn witnesses in September 2015, former Director-General of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau Omori Masasuke said, “If Japan directs its attack on a third nation, that nation will inevitably turn its guns on Japan. As a result, Japan would become involved in an armed conflict regardless of the deterrent.” He concluded that it is “completely mistaken to believe” that Japan’s use of the collective self-defense right leads to diminishing the risk of military attack on Japan.

The white paper also states that the security legislation will help to ensure Japan’s peace and security by further contributing to regional and international peace and stability. However, the actual purpose of the security legislation is to assist in U.S.-led wars.

The war legislation also allows the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to provide U.S. troops in combat with logistic support such as transportation and the supply of war materials. Logistics units are often primary targets for enemies as their activities are vital to the continuation of war. If SDF units engaged in logistic activities are under attack, they will strike back and the situation will escalate into a combat situation.

In addition, the war legislation enables the SDF to carry out public security operations involving the use of weapons in war-torn areas. The war laws contain many other articles and clauses to enable the SDF to employ armed force abroad.

It is a matter of serious concern that the official paper emphasizes that the defense authorities will work to complete arrangements in all aspects as the legislation came into effect in March.

Past related article:
> Nagasaki Hibakusha sue gov’t for unconstitutional war laws [June 9, 2016]