Rearmament of Japan Virtually Set the Time Table

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi virtually admitted his wiliness to amend the constitution by saying that he will prepare a bill for revision of the constitution that will call for the rearmament of Japan by the 50th anniversary of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), in November of 2005. Koizumi met with the secretary general of the LDP and asked him to prepare his party for the change, Japanese media reported yesterday. “The Liberal Democratic Party should tell the public its stance on the constitutional amendment and rouse public attention,” Koizumi said.

The Japanese Prime Minister indirectly mentioned the need for the amendment of the constitution before, but this is first time for him to announce his firm stance for the constitutional amendment, even stating the timetable. Japan`s amendment of the constitution is likely to encounter inevitable diplomatic conflicts since it suggests Japan`s definite rearmament, following the budget increase of the Self Defense Force and the dispatch of its troops overseas, and passing security related bills expanding the military`s ability to fight back in case of a foreign attack.

Koizumi, however, said yesterday, as his statement creates a stir, he would not push the amendment of the constitution even if re-elected during his tenure of office. “The current cabinet has already got more than enough tasks to handle and has no time for new political tasks.”

Pundits, however, believe it is a typical strategy that Koizumi employs to realize what he says by repeatedly mentioning but soon evading his true colors on complicated matters if it creates a stir. The LDP expects the bill to include collective self defense rights, giving power to the emperor as the chief of state, Hinomaru as the national flag, and possession of land, sea, and air forces along with other military capabilities. The constitution research committee in the LPD had already drawn out a draft bill in May that states such details.

Koizumi has also been insisting that Japan`s defense principles that acknowledge prohibition of collective defense and limit its military power to self defense only could be changed, if it is unavoidable.

Such movement shakes the basis of its pledge not to invade other countries in 1947, after losing the Second World War, as well as the basis of its existing ‘Peace Constitution.’ Conscientious objectors and some opposition lawmakers are heavily criticizing such movement, saying, “The draft bill for the revision of the constitution will lead Japan to militarism once again,” but they do not seem to have enough influence to change the tide.

Right wing politicians have long yearned for the amendment of the constitution for over half a century. Japanese political circles, such as the right wing politicians that persistently demand the amendment, launched the constitution research committee in January 2001 to discuss the direction of the amendment by 2004.

The debate on the amendment had abated since then, but the rightists soon began to raise their voices after the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Iraq War, North Korea`s nuclear weapons development and the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea. The pro-amendment politicians were also encouraged as security-related bills that legalize expansion of Japan’s military ability to fight back in case of an outside invasion were passed by overwhelming favors.

To revise the constitution, two thirds or more of the politicians in both lower and upper houses should approve the bill and should get more than half of the votes in favor of the referendum.

For the time being, considering the number of seats that the ruling party has, unless opposition parties consent to the amendment, the bill is unlikely to pass the Diet. Pundits, however, believe it is quite possible that the bill pass the Diet, considering the current atmosphere in the Japanese political community.

The Social Democratic Party and Communist Party that oppose the amendment, however, no longer have much political influence and even the Democratic Party, the biggest opposition party in Japan, has also shifted its stance, saying, “Time has passed and now the amendment of the constitution is unavoidable.”

Japanese media announce that if the amendment becomes an issue in the coming general election in November, pro-amendment politicians will take advantage coinciding with the rightist movement.

parkwj@donga.com