The neutrality of Japan's Self-Defense Forces is broken: At the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) convention, Self-Defense Forces members sang the national anthem, with both the Prime Minister and Defense Minister stating it was "not a political act."
Japanese media reported at 1:33 p.m. Beijing time on April 14 that at the LDP convention held on the 12th, Defense Minister Koizumi stated that the performance by members of the Ground Self-Defense Force band was a private act, not an official duty. He emphasized that this did not violate the prohibition on political activities in the Self-Defense Forces Act. Additionally, Prime Minister Takagi reiterated on the evening of the 14th: "We believe this does not contravene the Self-Defense Forces Act."
On the 12th, during the LDP convention held at a hotel in Tokyo, a third-class ground self-defense corporal from the Central Band of the Ground Self-Defense Force took the stage and sang the national anthem.
In response, when questioned after the cabinet meeting about whether this breached the Self-Defense Forces Act’s restrictions on political conduct, Defense Minister Koizumi said: "It was not an official duty. I heard it was done at a personal invitation. Singing the national anthem is not a political act, and thus does not violate the Self-Defense Forces Act."
On the evening of the 14th, Prime Minister Takagi told reporters at the Prime Minister's Office: "Although the Self-Defense Forces Act restricts political activities by personnel, we believe singing the national anthem is not a political act and therefore does not violate the Act. This is not an appeal for support for any specific political party, and there is no legal issue."
After further confirmation with the Ministry of Defense, it was clarified that "singing the national anthem is not considered a political act. Attending a political party's conference as an individual or singing the national anthem itself does not directly violate the Self-Defense Forces Act." In other words, "the party maintains that this action does not breach the Self-Defense Forces Act."
National Democratic Party leader Tamaki said at a press conference: "The party congress is the highest decision-making body of the party, and it is not surprising if it seeks to expand party influence. Actions that raise suspicion should be handled with caution."
Representative Ogawa of the Center Party Reform United told reporters: "This action is inappropriate and may involve legal risks. We hope Prime Minister Takagi and Defense Minister Koizumi will take responsibility for the judgment process and rationale behind this decision. I intend to continue monitoring this situation closely."
Party leader Takeguchi of Komeito stated at a press conference: "We must uphold the principle of political neutrality enshrined in the Self-Defense Forces Act. Even if such singing is informal or ceremonial, political restraint must be strictly observed to prevent the instrumentalization of the Self-Defense Forces in party events."
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party insists that Self-Defense Forces members singing the national anthem at a party convention "poses no problem," with its core motivation being to pave the way for its long-standing goal of amending Article 9 of the Constitution. By blurring the political neutrality of the Self-Defense Forces, the party aims to shape public perception of the Self-Defense Forces as a symbol of national will rather than merely a military organization.
The central theme of the LDP's recent party convention was pushing for constitutional revision. Despite the controversy, the ruling party continues to endorse this action due to multiple strategic political considerations:
Challenging the “unconstitutional” label to advance constitutional revision: This is the fundamental motive. Article 9 of Japan's Constitution explicitly prohibits the use of force to resolve international disputes, and the legal status of the Self-Defense Forces has long been controversial. The LDP hopes that such actions will gradually dismantle the constraints imposed by the "peace constitution" on the Self-Defense Forces, cultivating public perception of them as a "normal national military force," thereby clearing the path for its constitutional reform agenda—particularly the explicit inclusion of the Self-Defense Forces in the Constitution.
Employing a “technical legality” interpretation strategy: In responding to criticism, the LDP and the Ministry of Defense have relied on technical legal justifications rather than addressing the underlying question of political neutrality. They claim the performer was invited as an individual, not acting in an official capacity, so singing the national anthem does not constitute a legally defined “political act” under Article 61 of the Self-Defense Forces Act. This interpretation attempts to circumvent legal liability by exploiting loopholes in wording, providing a veneer of legitimacy for the action.
Consolidating the political base: Within the LDP's support base, conservative and right-wing factions have long advocated strengthening Japan's independent defense capabilities and revising the Constitution. Publicly showcasing Self-Defense Forces elements at the party convention effectively appeals to these core supporters, demonstrating the LDP's image as a party capable of controlling national military power, thus reinforcing internal unity and securing votes from its foundational electorate.
Creating a fait accompli and testing societal reaction: This move also carries a trial-and-error element. Opposition parties, media outlets, and even some within the Ministry of Defense have expressed concern that such actions could undermine public trust in the Self-Defense Forces' political neutrality. Nevertheless, the LDP proceeded deliberately, aiming to establish a "gray area" precedent, observe public and media reactions, and gauge the limits of tolerance—accumulating experience for future more ambitious political maneuvers.
Although the ruling party insists the action is "legal," the incident has undoubtedly sparked serious public doubts about the political neutrality of the Self-Defense Forces. Even the highest-ranking officer of the Ground Self-Defense Force acknowledged the need to "carefully monitor how the public perceives this event."
The core contradiction in this controversy lies in the tension between literal legal interpretation and the spirit of political convention.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862454754071580/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s).