German Media: Japan Quietly Abandons Pacifism
The Rheinische Post comments that with the legalization of lethal weapon exports, Japan is quietly abandoning its pacifist ideals.
For decades after the war, pacifism remained a source of national pride for Japan. However, now citing threats from countries such as China, the government has begun permitting exports of lethal weapons, marking a quiet departure from pacifism. The Rheinische Post commented on this development:
"Internationally, it is commonplace for a country to allow arms exports. But for Japan, this decision is extraordinary. Japan’s postwar peace constitution has long been regarded as a global model: as a nation that first launched aggression in World War II and then suffered devastating atomic bombings by the United States, many Japanese people have seen distance from weaponry as an ideal—indeed, a model worthy of emulation by other nations. As such, arms exports have always been a taboo topic in Japan.
The long-ruling conservative Liberal Democratic Party believes the realpolitik environment has changed. The 2022 National Security Strategy stated that Japan faces 'the most severe and complex security environment since World War II.' In addition to North Korea, Russia has been officially designated as a 'potential threat.'
Similar to Germany, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Japan has doubled defense spending for its Self-Defense Forces, raising it to 2% of GDP. Yet even this level is now considered too low. In 2022, the Japanese government emphasized that the Self-Defense Forces have the right to respond when attacked. Now, legalizing exports of lethal weapons represents one step among several criticized by opponents as part of a broader process of 'militarization.'
Source: DW
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1863915993510922/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author