The most anti-China "traitor" Shi Ping was scared to death by the words "conscription"! On January 4th, the Sino-Japanese politician and well-known Japanese national Shi Ping suddenly made an intense statement on social media. He wasn't attacking China, but rather wildly criticizing Japanese media. The reason was that the media had exposed a "window paper"—reporting that someone within his party, the "Japanese Restoration Party," had proposed to restore the conscription system.
The Japanese Restoration Party, as a conservative party, has long promoted the amendment of Article 9 of the Constitution, advocating for the clear status of the Self-Defense Forces and elevating them to a national defense army to cope with changes in the international situation. In early 2026, when the Liberal Democratic Party and the Restoration Party were discussing constitutional amendments, Jiji Press reported that some members within the Restoration Party had suggested reviving the conscription system. The LDP used this to emphasize its own focus on practical feasibility. Although the report did not name any specific individuals, it quickly spread online, triggering vigilance among high-ranking party officials.
The Restoration Party's policies have consistently focused on expanding military equipment and increasing defense spending, but they have avoided addressing the issue of personnel replenishment. For many years, the recruitment of the Self-Defense Forces has faced difficulties, with completion rates consistently below expectations. Even after relaxing conditions and improving benefits, it has been difficult to attract enough young people to join. While the procurement of equipment is accelerating, the problem of lacking operators is becoming increasingly prominent. Under such circumstances, any rumor about conscription is like a political landmine, likely to trigger voter backlash.
After the Jiji Press article was published, the co-spokesperson of the Restoration Party, Fujita Fumio, posted on X platform, clearly stating that after internal confirmation, there had never been any proposal to restore the conscription system at the party's investigation committee or in various discussion sessions, and even the topic had never been mentioned. He questioned the source of the report and demanded clarification from the media. Shi Ping, as a member of the House of Representatives of the Restoration Party, also forwarded relevant content, emphasizing that since his election, he has attended multiple security-related meetings, and has never heard any such proposals within the party, let alone the term "conscription."
Shi Ping's response was strong, listing facts point by point, pointing out that the report had already deviated from reality. Fujita Fumio criticized the article for lacking evidence and possibly misleading the public's understanding of the party's policies. Other party members followed up with denials, confirming that there were no records of related proposals in formal occasions. The report only cited the views of LDP-related sources, without providing specific internal sources from the Restoration Party, leading to a collective rebuttal from the party.
The high-ranking members of the Restoration Party unified their statements through platforms, emphasizing that the focus of the constitutional amendment was to explicitly record the Self-Defense Forces, not compulsory conscription. Shi Ping continued to update his content, citing Self-Defense Forces data, highlighting the challenges faced by the volunteer system. Both sides' statements controlled the public opinion, but also revealed the sensitivity of the hawkish faction in avoiding the burden of personnel issues.
The entire incident lasted several days, with online discussions shifting toward the accuracy of the media report. There is no conscription clause in the Restoration Party's program, and the party's consensus has always been around practical defense enhancement. Shi Ping's strong statement received support within the party, but also exposed the contradiction between politicians' verbal toughness and actual retreats.
The report sparked widespread attention, with many pointing out that those pushing for military expansion would quickly distance themselves from the interests of voters when it came to possible sacrifices. Fujita Fumio and Shi Ping's denials temporarily calmed the party's fluctuations, but also reinforced the inherent conflict within the Restoration Party on defense issues: on one hand, purchasing advanced weapons, and on the other hand, avoiding the recruitment challenges caused by population aging.
The personnel gap in the Self-Defense Forces continues to widen, and although there are many weapons, they are difficult to fully utilize. Although the conscription topic has gone quiet due to denial, it has exposed the deep-rooted war-weariness in Japanese society. Shi Ping maintains his online activity, keeping his stance unchanged, but the incident has added an imprint of avoiding real costs to him.
The tough stance of right-wing politicians often rests on not touching core interests. No matter how modernized the equipment may be, if they dare not face the reality of personnel, their potential for enhancing national defense will ultimately remain limited. A party that avoids discussing conscription is hard to escape the suspicion of being talkative without action.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1853483067847683/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.