Japan's defense reawakening

By John J. Metzler

There's a significant sea change occurring in Japanese defense policy. Some would say it's the result of a political Tsunami. Others would argue it's a long overdue wake-up call.

After years of scrupulously keeping within the limits of its post-war Constitution, and maintaining self-imposed spending norms of keeping military spending at 1 percent of GDP, Tokyo has green-lighted a doubling of defense spending and taken a more assertive political stance on the global stage.

The doubling of defense spending; from one to two percent within five years, may not sound like much but before anyone smirks, the increase makes Japan's military budget the world's third largest, only behind the United States and communist China.

Talismans for change in Tokyo's policies include the enduring missile threat from nearby North Korea and China's widening military shadow over Taiwan and the South China Sea. Russia's war against Ukraine refocused the threat from policy hypotheticals to a clear and present danger facing Japan itself.

A new National Security Strategy has emerged. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Washington and met with President Joe Biden in what's described as "a historic moment for our Alliance, the Indo-Pacific, and the world."

A Joint Statement affirmed, "Our security Alliance has never been stronger."

Significantly the partners agreed on "the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity in the international community. We encourage the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues."

It added, "President Biden commended Japan's bold leadership in fundamentally reinforcing its defense capabilities and strengthening diplomatic efforts." Japan's emboldened stance at the United Nations, as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, and its unequivocal statements on North Korea are clear examples.

For a generation, policy analysts decried Japan as an economic giant with feet of clay. Others viewed a prosperous Japan as getting the proverbial "free ride" from the United States through the Mutual Defense Treaty, where American military forces defended Japan while the Japanese factories turned out improved products often devastating U.S. companies.

Back in the 1980's I recall the focus of U.S./Japan relations reflected on trade deficits and how to convince the Japanese to assume a greater share of their defense responsibilities.

First, a bit of history. Following the defeat of militarist Japan in 1945 at the end of WW II, the U.S.-led occupation under General Douglas MacArthur had the foresight to establish a democratic Constitution enshrining free political parties, land reform, Women's suffrage, a free press and trade unions. Most controversially, the Constitution created a working parliamentary system but retained the Emperor, in this case, wartime Hirohito, as a figurehead and symbol of the state.

Equally the Constitution's Article 9, viewed as the "no war clause" forbade Japan from having a formal military force and outlawed war as a policy option. Thus Japan was given a legal reason, many would say excuse, to avoid costly defense spending as the Cold War was heating up, especially in nearby Korea and China.

Following the formal end of the U.S. occupation in 1952, the Yoshida Doctrine became the agreed template for Tokyo's policy with Washington. Japan's democratic Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida relied upon U.S. military security while maintaining limited Self Defense Forces. At the same time, Japan redoubled its efforts on rebuilding and economic growth. The results produced Japan's economic miracle.

In recent years, during the tenure of nationalist Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the political tide was turning towards a more assertive geopolitical stance. The widening missile threat from North Korea and China's ominous moves towards both the South China Sea and Taiwan were openly discussed. Moreover, Prime Minister Abe's particularly close friendship with President Donald Trump formed the foundation for the current expansion; both men agreed on creating a militarily strong Japan as a counterweight to China. However, Abe was tragically assassinated last year.

Nonetheless, Japan's more muscular defense role must not be unilateral but placed within the wider context of East Asia, especially partnering with countries like South Korea, the Philippines and Indonesia, all of whom suffered at the hands of the Japanese militarists during WW II. The Washington Statement stressed, "We commit to strengthening vital trilateral cooperation among Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States, in security and other domains."

Yet while Washington provides the cornerstone of Japan's defense relationships, the Tokyo government is widening its diplomatic partnerships in Europe to help in its efforts to deter China militarily. Equally, Japan looks to India, a fellow democracy, as a counterweight to China. Kishida is not putting all his eggs in the Biden basket.

John J. Metzler (jjmcolumn@earthlnk.net) is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of "Divided Dynamism ― The Diplomacy of Separated Nations: Germany, Korea, China."