Most Japanese are against collective self-defense for fear of war

As many as 71 percent of Japanese people believe the nation will become embroiled in other countries’ wars if the Shinzo Abe Cabinet’s right to collective self-defense is exercised.

In a survey conducted on Friday and Saturday by Mainichi Shimbun, a mere 19 percent said there were no concerns that Japan would not (become embroiled in other countries’ wars), reflecting the Japanese public’s anxiety over the right to collective self-defense. The poll was conducted of 1,828 households throughout Japan, or 1,008 people.

Those opposed to the exercise of the right to collective self-defense accounted for 58 percent, while 32 percent answered in favor. Those who said they did not agree with Abe’s explanation that permitting the right to collective self-defense would serve as deterrence to other countries’ provocation accounted for 62 percent. The approval rate of the Abe Cabinet was 45 percent, dropping four percentage points from the time of the survey in the previous month.

As if to reflect this atmosphere, movements criticizing the right to collective self-defense are spreading among local councils. According to the Tokyo Shimbun, more than 120 local councils in June alone have opposed to Abe’s plan regarding the lifting of the ban on fighting or said careful attention is needed. Up to now, a total of 190 have expressed criticisms. The newspaper stressed that none of the 7,188 local self-governing bodies have adopted such opinions supporting the government’s policy on the issue.

Meanwhile, Abe is highly likely to make the Cabinet decide to allow the exercise of right to self-defense on Tuesday, the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Ground, Maritime, and Air Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). The Forces will be born again into a regular military on their birthday.

However, Kyodo News says tension is increasing among self-defense force members and their families. One former self-defense forces officer, 22, told the news agency that most of his fellow men had enlisted due to finding appeal in deployment to disaster areas or saving human lives. If they are suddenly ordered to the battlefield, people who want to join the Japan Self-Defense Forces will disappear going forward.