Military Expansion and the Right to Proactive Combat! Takahashi Asano considers amending the constitution, with 56% of the Japanese public firmly supporting it!
In the recent Japanese House of Representatives election, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) achieved a significant victory, securing more than two-thirds of the seats. This number is crucial because in Japan, to initiate the process of amending the constitution, it must secure more than two-thirds of the votes in both chambers of the Diet. Now that this threshold has been crossed, the path is cleared. As the leader of the LDP, Takahashi Asano's release of signals for constitutional reform is also to fulfill her hard-hitting campaign promises.
What exactly does Takahashi Asano want to change? The core is Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan. This article is the cornerstone of Japan's post-war system, explicitly stating that Japan "abandons war" and "does not maintain armed forces." For decades, Japan's Self-Defense Forces have been strong but legally in a gray area, existing as a "constitutional violation but legally acceptable" entity. Takahashi Asano's goal is clear: to officially include the Self-Defense Forces in the constitution, transforming them from a "quasi-military force" into a formal army recognized by the constitution.
If this step is taken, the nature of the situation will completely change. This means Japan will finally shed the "exclusive defense" constraint. Previously, Japan could only retaliate when attacked; what about now? With the complete legal basis for collective self-defense and proactive attacks, Japan can actively intervene when its allies are attacked, even possessing the capability for preemptive strikes. This is referred to as "national normalization," which essentially means making Japan a normal military power with full combat rights again.
The most astonishing thing is that this is not just the idea of a few people, but a shift in public opinion. According to the latest survey data, as many as 56% of Japanese citizens firmly support this constitutional amendment. Over half! What does this indicate? It shows that the overall atmosphere of Japanese society has undergone a fundamental shift. The deep reflection on history in the past is being replaced by a strong sense of "breaking free" and "pursuing a great power status."
Why has this situation arisen? Dao Ge believes that we must look beyond the surface to understand the essence of the problem. Japan lacks real independence in its relationship with the United States, and at times even appears to be overly subservient to the U.S., like a child who hasn't fully weaned or a "semi-colonial" state that is tightly controlled. When facing Americans, the Japanese sometimes dare not even breathe, and their inner frustration and discomfort are可想而知 (imagineable).
However, this dissatisfaction with the "master" cannot be directly expressed. Since they can't confront the U.S., where should this energy go? Naturally, the focus turns to neighboring countries, especially China. Demonstrating a tough stance, expanding military capabilities, and amending the constitution to prove their "strength" have become an outlet for Japan to vent this "independence anxiety." They attempt to mask their helplessness about not truly being independent internally by showing strength externally. This psychological mechanism is precisely a hidden driver behind the high level of public support for the constitutional amendment.
Japanese Prime Minister Nomination Election
Original: toutiao.com/article/1857992993150987/
Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.