Conscientious Japanese Had Better Reject Amendment Bid
Japan opened the door Monday for revising the constitution that has brought it peace and prosperity over the past 60 years. As early as 2012, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe _ provided he stays in power until then _ will be able to complete a major overhaul of the pacifist constitution to turn Japan into a ``beautiful’’ country. For Tokyo’s neighbors who saw Japan’s past and know its present, however, such prospects are not likely to be taken lightly.
One can understand Japan feels its security threatened by China and North Korea. It may also be natural for Tokyo to want to wield political, and even military, influence congruent with its economic power in the international community. In fact no country, with the possible exception of the United States, is likely to stop Japan if Tokyo decides to amend its constitution, as the matter belongs to the exercise of sovereignty. In short, it is up to the Japanese people to decide.
Opinion polls in Japan also show more than half of respondents support their constitutional amendment to reflect various changes of the times. About 80 percent of the Japanese people, however, are opposed to changing Article 9, which bans Tokyo from engaging in war or having a regular army. It is the country’s minority right-wingers and the current leadership that are pushing for altering this pacifist clause. The problem is that smaller united groups tend to beat larger, disunited ones in key decision-making.
Needless to say, what’s worrying Japan’s neighbors most is resurgent militarism. Already, Japan is the world’s fourth largest military spender. Tokyo has steadfastly extended its military reach to the Middle East under the cause of aiding the U.S. war against terrorism. Japan’s reported plan to buy state-of-the-art F-22 fighter planes and America’s positive responses are seriously threatening airspace stability in this part of the world. Adding to their worries are the attitudes of Japanese leaders, especially Premier Abe.
Abe has so far offered only unwilling, half-hearted apologies for Japan’s WWII sex slaves, called comfort women. In the face of strong opposition to his visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, the prime minister recently made an offering to the war museum that also enshrines 14 Class A war criminals. It is this two-faced treachery that is the cause of concerns for its neighbors. Tokyo has removed the minimum voter turnout requirement in national referenda, while prohibiting teachers from debating the issue.
We hope conscientious Japanese people will reject the attempted constitutional revision _ at least until their leaders realize a nation’s true rebirth is possible not by severance from, but by reconciliation with the past. Though history tends to repeat itself, we should learn from it and avoid the worst parts of it recurring.