Japan Veers Right After Missile Test

Japanese policymakers are stirring up anger from their neighbors with their open calls for a “pre-emptive strike” on North Korea after North tested rocket launch.

Their calls are alarming because the advocates include director general of Japan Defense Agency, foreign minister, and chief cabinet secretary – those who decide Japan’s diplomatic and security policy.

The first to speak out on July 9 was Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga. When asked about the Japanese self-defense forces’ ability to stage an attack on enemy targets, he said, “It is logical for an independent state to possess the ability to stage an attack under certain limits.

Foreign Minister Taro Aso also said, “We cannot just stand around doing nothing when nukes on missiles are headed our way.”

Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe went so far as to say on Monday, “There is a need to discuss whether attacking another nation, when there is no other way to defend ourselves from missile attacks, lies within the boundaries of legal self defense.

Behind those mentions, there is fear that the MD (missile defense) system that Japan is pursuing with the U.S. may not be enough to defend Japan.

There is, however, also another interpretation of Japan’s latest movements: exaggerating the threat to give initiative to Japan’s attempts to build a powerful military, which is high on the conservatives’ agenda. Proponents of this interpretation also present the Japanese government and the ruling party’s enthusiasm to amend the Constitution and relax the conditions under which the dispatching of self-defense forces is allowed.

Discussions on pre-emptive strikes on enemy bases have never ceased since the 50s.

Then-director general of Japan Defense Agency said on behalf of Former Prime Minister Hatoyama Ichirō during a National Diet inquiry in 1956, “The goal of the Constitution is not to invite extinction when the nation is being attacked by guided missiles. Attacking enemy bases is an option, because it is legal when there is no other way to ward off enemy attack.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe introduced this statement while making his point on Monday.

Then-Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba during Security Committee of the House of Representatives said on January 2003, “We can attack if our enemies notify us of their plans and prepare to attack us.

The Japanese government does not officially advocate the pre-emptive strike option. While presenting his pre-emptive strike theory, Director General Nukaga said that there need to be talks with Democratic Party of Japan and within the ruling party and stressed that it is his personal belief.

The New Komeito Party, which is a partner of the coalition, may stand against the pre-emptive strike theory because pacifism is a party principle. It is not easy to bring about a single position even within the ruling party. There is also much controversy over whether pre-emptive strike is possible without amendments to the pacifist Constitution.

White House Press Spokesman Tony Snow said on Monday, “Foreign Minister Abe is not suggesting that Japan needs to amend the Constitution, because it will react with measures that go against the Constitution.”

Japan’s rearmament and military expansion has a long history and they meet U.S. interests. North Korea’s missiles accelerated this flow.

The Korean government’s reconciliatory tone with the North and China’s reaction may further isolate Japan within East Asia. This may lead to Japan’s rearmament as well.

Young-A Soh sya@donga.com iam@donga.com