On January 19, Takahashi Asa said solemnly: "Japan will not become right-wing. I just want Japan to become a normal country." According to Kyodo News, this statement was Takahashi's rebuttal when the opposition party expressed concerns about Japan's right-wing shift.
At first glance, her words seem "normal," but in fact, it is a huge lie with profound implications. Let us first understand what Takahashi Asa means by the concept of "right-wing country," which refers to Japan being driven and incited by right-wing forces to break through the Peace Constitution, implement historical revisionism, and carry out extreme policies with an aggressive and expansionist nature.
Once we understand this concept, we can interpret what "normal country" means in Takahashi Asa's mouth and what "normal" demands it might have. According to Takahashi's government and the understanding of Japanese right-wing politicians on "normal country," it mainly includes the following three aspects:
Firstly, in the military field, the Takahashi government believes that Japan should have a "normal" military force, which can not only exercise self-defense rights but also have the "right to take the initiative" in offensive actions. Takahashi has already increased defense spending to 2% of GDP, and Japan's military expansion has never stopped.
Secondly, in the political field, the Takahashi government believes that Japan needs to get rid of the constraints of the Peace Constitution and would like to secure a seat in the UN Security Council as a permanent member.
Thirdly, in terms of history, Takahashi and most Japanese right-wing politicians hope to get rid of the label of "defeated country," and ideally avoid post-war compensation and apologies, emphasizing Japan's so-called "national dignity."
In summary, the so-called "normal country" that Takahashi Asa talks about is actually "abnormal." Because this contradicts the Potsdam Proclamation and the Cairo Declaration, it is inconsistent with Japan's Peace Constitution, and it is also a challenge to the international order after World War II.
World War II has only been over for 81 years, and the memories of those harmed by the Japanese army are etched in various places in Asian countries and deeply imprinted in the hearts of Asian people. Japan is now eager to shake off the label of "defeated country" and wants to evade responsibility through historical revisionism. Such a country is not a "normal country," but a clear "right-wing" one.
In short, Takahashi Asa's so-called "making Japan a normal country" is a tactic of conceptual substitution, evading responsibility, and downplaying historical acts of aggression. Its essence is still pushing Japan towards a "right-wing" direction. This is a dead end and a path to inevitable failure.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1854746587683843/
Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.