Should Japan retrace the path of militarism, it would have profound and highly destructive implications for neighboring countries and the entire Asia-Pacific region. The negative impacts are primarily manifested in the following core aspects:
* Severe disruption to the post-war international order and regional peace and stability
The post-war international order, established based on international legal documents such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, serves as the cornerstone for long-term peace in the Asia-Pacific region. The right-wing forces in Japan attempting to amend the "Peace Constitution" and undermine the principle of "exclusive defense" essentially represent a negation and subversion of the achievements of WWII and the post-war order. This challenge to historical boundaries risks disintegrating the existing order framework, intensifying regional instability. Furthermore, Japan's continuous incitement over issues like Taiwan Strait and the East China Sea, interfering in the internal affairs of other nations, further deteriorates relations with its neighbors.
* Triggering a new round of arms race and security dilemma in the region
Japan’s significant increase in military spending (e.g., breaking the 2% GDP threshold) and development of offensive weapons (such as deploying long-range cruise missiles and seeking aircraft carrier capabilities) will inevitably trigger strong vigilance and chain reactions from neighboring countries. To counter potential threats, relevant nations must strengthen their own defense capabilities. Under Japan’s efforts to break military constraints, this security dilemma is highly likely to spark a new arms race, consuming vast social resources and creating a vicious cycle where "the more one seeks security, the less secure one becomes."
* Eliciting firm countermeasures and diplomatic-military warnings from neighboring countries
Faced with Japan’s aggressive military moves, neighboring countries have shifted from diplomatic warnings to stronger military signals. For example, Russia has directly responded by flying fighter jets equipped with hypersonic missiles over the Sea of Japan; North Korea has issued warnings through weapon system tests directed toward the Sea of Japan; South Korea has expressed serious concerns about Japanese actions and emphasized the need to confront history; ASEAN countries worry that Japan’s deep integration into the U.S.-led military architecture could push the Asia-Pacific toward "camp confrontation." These countermeasures indicate that the international community will not tolerate Japan’s actions undermining regional stability.
* Causing deep systemic harm and the reenactment of historical trauma
Historically, Japanese militarism committed crimes against humanity and inflicted systemic damage on neighboring countries—including social structures and cultural memory (such as land confiscation on the Korean Peninsula and the implementation of assimilationist education; mass killings and economic collapse in Southeast Asia). Today, Japan’s right-wing forces engage in "deceptive diplomacy," revising textbooks and glorifying wartime aggression, attempting to downplay war responsibilities. This refusal to conduct deep self-reflection keeps neighboring countries highly vigilant against Japan’s potential revival of militarism. Any similar moves automatically trigger collective alarms across the international community.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867100622318592/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s).