Japan's new security bill destabilizes Pacific
- By Zhang Jingwei
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 5, 2016
The Korean Peninsula, the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea could all be where Japan wages wars against China in the future. Now that the Japanese SDF has full liberty and the rights to wage wars globally, the unforgettable WWII images start to surface again. This time, however, Japan will fight with the United States, instead of against it.
From the perspective of the Abe-led Japanese government, the new security laws seek to reinstate Japan as a normal country, or in Japan's rhetoric, the national safety of Japan. In reality, to reach this objective requires a recognition and trust from its neighboring countries, similar to what Germany has done. Germany completely broke from its past while resolutely undertaking a role to construct post-WWII Europe. By contrast, Japan remains tense in its relations with its neighbors owing to its erroneous stance on historical issues.
Under the circumstances, Japan is considered a threat by its neighbors but not vice versa. Japan's perceived threats from China, and its other neighbors, are either imaginary self-flagellations or a lack of self-confidence.
If Japan is acting in line with the idea of deterrence, believing the old saying "si vis pacem, para bellum" which translates as "if you want peace, prepare for war," the new security laws will only stimulate increased agitation in northeast Asia, which in turn will initiate a bigger arms race.
Therefore, even if Abe's stance is legitimate enough, the new security laws cannot ensure the peace that Abe claims he desires; instead, the laws destabilize the region even further. It is fair to say that the new security laws harm others without benefiting Japan itself.
The United States needs a fully-armed ally to serve as its pawn in the western Pacific region to contain China's maritime interests in the area. But the question remains whether or not the United States can really control an armed Japan.
As Washington announces strategic retraction, nationalism rises in the United States. Politicians like Donald Trump have publically announced that the United States will not fight for any other country. The seemingly pacifist declaration may send Japan into worrying whether its U.S. protector is still reliable, a notion that will lead the country to build up its military strength step by step.
Japan's new security laws are worthy of attention from all Asia-Pacific countries, including the United States.
The author is a researcher at the Charhar Institute.
The article was translated by Chen Boyuan. Its unabridged version was published in Chinese.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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