Japan's era of postwar pacifism may be coming to an end

[CHIMO]

Japan is expected to adopt a more "dynamic" forward-leaning military posture, involving sophisticated new weaponry, mobile rapid-response units and closer security alliances with friendly countries, as part of a sweeping strategic defence review focused on real or potential threats from China and North Korea.

Although the shift towards a more assertive military stance has been under discussion in Tokyo for some time, an angry maritime confrontation with China in September and the recent North Korean attack on South Korean territory have lent urgency to discussions on how to deal with the challenges both countries pose to Japan.

At the same time, moves by Japan to break the bonds of its postwar pacifist constitution and take a more proactive military role both regionally and internationally are certain to ring alarm bells in neighbouring states, including modern-day de facto allies such as South Korea, which have not forgotten or forgiven the past.

Japanese media reports suggest the review, which is expected this week and is the first update of the so-called "national defence programme guideline" for six years, will identify North Korea as a threat and categorise China's military activities as a concern. The Nikkei business daily said it would call for creation of a "dynamic defence capability" specifically tasked with deterring Chinese incursions around Japan's disputed southern islands, in part by mobilising units of Japan's self-defence force more rapidly.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/dec/13/japan-era-pacifism-china-threat

Everything old is new again.

[Poll_Blind]

1. I'm sure Japanese culture and society is stable enough to do this responsibly.

Oh wait, no it's not.

And I say this fully aware that I'm an American saying this and the irony involving our own military misadventures.

PB

[mwrguy]

2. Explain that please

How is Japanese culture unstable?

[Poll_Blind]

4. Unlike Germany, they were never really able to transmute their imperial ultranationalism into...

...much beyond ultra corporatism. Culturally, they are for the most part still in a state of national denial of the crimes against humanity committed by Japanese troops against their conquests and the overall deleterious effect of imperial ultranationalism. Or come to grips with their use of comfort women. Or Unit 731's crimes against humanity. Or the Rape of Nanjing. It goes on and on, all the way down to Japanese soldiers' role in the Okinawan mass suicides, a favorable lie about which was still being published in Japanese textbooks in 2007.

Rather than own up to their atrocities during WW II, many of which were something of an extension of the absolute murderous barbarity of feudal Japan, they just chose to sweep it under the rug. For the most part, just pretend it didn't happen.

PB

[masmdu]

8. On what do you base your claim that, "Culturally, they are for the most part still in as state of ,,

...national denial"?

That has been 180 degrees from my experience that for the most part Japanese are well aware of the crimes committed by Japanese troops, comfort women, 731, and Nanjing ...are appalled, ashamed, and committed to peace and policies to avoid any chance of recurrence.

[AsahinaKimi]

3. Woot!

They can start by building those HUGE GUNDAM DEFENSE ROBOTS!

[pa28]

7. Yes, Japanese transforming robots will be the new global hegemon.

I'm sure they'll be designed to help old ladies cross the street as well.

;)

[AsahinaKimi]

9. This guy they will send to North Korea just in case..

Could you imagine him standing on the border in South Korea?

[The Second Stone]

5. dynamic forward leaning posture

means aggressive, doesn't it?

[Poll_Blind]

6. Either that or they're a-tryin' ta kiss ya! But the Japanese army, historically, doesn't...

...bother with kissing much.

PB