Warning to Revision Drive

Japan Should Refrain From Reviving Militarism

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s drive for a constitutional revision is raising concerns about the resurgence of militarism. Marking the 60th anniversary of the pacifist Constitution on Thursday, Abe renewed his call to amend the charter imposed by the U.S. allied forces after World War II. There is no doubt that his prime goal is to allow Japan the right to collective self-defense so that it can play a greater military role overseas.

Abe said in a statement, ``A bold review of Japan’s postwar stance and an in-depth discussion of the Constitution for a `new Japan’ is necessary ... to open up a new era.’’ He added the Constitution ``needs to be revised as its basic framework can no longer proceed with major changes in the administration system, relations between central and local governments, and foreign and security policies.

Abe, the first Japanese prime minister born after the war, has made the constitutional amendment one of his top priorities since he took office last September. He seems to believe that it is high time for the island country to rewrite the charter as part of his vision of a more assertive Japan. His drive is gaining momentum amid rising nationalism and a gaining rightwing trend in Japan, which remind people in its Asian neighbors of the specter of militarism.

The review of the postwar Constitution focuses on the war-renouncing Article 9 which says, ``The Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.’’ By changing the clause, the nationalistic prime minister apparently wants to expand the international role of Japan’s military and foster a revival of national pride.

Japan has already upgraded its Defense Agency into a full ministry, while a controversial education bill was passed with an aim of instilling patriotism into classrooms. Early last month, the Japanese government also established a panel of experts to examine the question of whether to revise the current interpretation of the Constitution. Japan’s parliament, the Diet, is expected to vote on an another controversial bill setting rules for a national referendum on the revision during the current regular session lasting through June 23. However, it is too early to tell if there will be a quick amendment of the charter although Japan has laid the groundwork for it.

While pressing for the revision, Abe has continuously refused to acknowledge coercion by the Japanese Imperial Army in putting about 200,000 innocent women into sexual slavery during World War II. His position on the ``comfort women’’ issue has angered neighboring countries, including South Korea and China. He should realize that the victims and their families still feel unbearable pain due to the widespread efforts to cover up or whitewash the wartime atrocities committed by Japanese troops. It is imperative for the Japanese government to give up its apparent attempt to return to militarism by revising the Constitution.