Japan strengthens defenses amid concerns over China’s ‘military activities’

As the world watches China’s rise, Japan finds itself in the midst of its biggest defense shift since World War II.

The move is seen as an abandonment of the country’s pacifist constitution, but during a speech on the newly built warship JS Nagara, Yoshida Shinji, parliamentary secretary to Japan’s defense minister, said it was necessary to “safeguard” the country’s territory.

“The security environment surrounding our country is now the most severe and complex it has seen since the end of the war,” he said.

Mr Yoshida said the ship, which has now been formally handed over to the Japan Self-Defense Forces, would help meet “growing demands for surveillance and control in peacetime”.

He then added that “in case of emergency”, the JS Nagara had “anti-submarine, anti-air and anti-surface warfare capabilities”.

Australia has already signed a multi-billion dollar deal with Japan to purchase the warships, which will be an upgraded version of the same class as the JS Nagara.

Japan is surrounded by nuclear-armed China, North Korea and Russia and has recently increased its defense spending to a record level.

The country is also transferring weapons to its outlying islands, has a new cybersecurity strategy and is working on a national intelligence agency.

At the same time, it changed its rules to allow it to sell military equipment to certain countries, with the Philippines and Indonesia already having agreements.

This change was welcomed by Australia and the United States, but strongly criticized by China.

Japan’s military spending

Japan’s defense spending has been rising steadily for more than a decade, with the latest budget forecasting 9 trillion yen ($80 billion), close to the 2% of GDP target.

The country has recently come under pressure from its only official ally, the United States, to increase its defense spending, amid concerns that Washington’s attention will be drawn to the Middle East.

The defense spending also comes amid growing tensions in the region, with Japanese and Chinese coast guards clashing again this month in waters near Taiwan.

In response to questions from the ABC, Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu said China’s increasing defense spending and its “rapidly expanding” nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities were a concern for Japan.

China’s ballistic missile test in the Pacific last week is the latest source of tension.

“China is increasingly expanding and intensifying its military activities near Japan,” Mr Motegi told the ABC.

“These military developments, combined with a lack of transparency, are a matter of grave concern not only for Japan but also for the international community.”

He said that amid an “increasingly severe security environment,” Japan is “developing the minimum defense capabilities necessary to protect the lives and property of our citizens and to properly safeguard our territory, territorial waters and airspace.”

China warns Japan is becoming a ‘powder keg’

The Chinese government has repeatedly criticized Japan’s shift in defense policy, calling it “neo-militarization.”

State media said Japan, the “once aggressor,” had not reflected on its “war crimes.”

Diplomatic relations between Beijing and Tokyo have been at an all-time low since Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae indicated that an attack on Taiwan could prompt a response from Japan.

“Japan is becoming a powder keg for the Asia-Pacific region with its accelerated remilitarization,” said Chen Xi, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense.

“The Japanese side has repeatedly peddled the so-called Chinese military threat narrative, deliberately fueling confrontation and creating security concerns.

“The reason they did all these things is to fabricate excuses to evade restrictions on their defense forces and to seek a massive military buildup.”

Mr Motegi also said China’s “narratives” about Japan “run counter to the truth” about the country’s policies and positions.

“Japan’s postwar trajectory as a peaceful nation will remain unchanged,” he said.

“We believe that Japan’s approach and concrete actions, as well as its contributions to peace and prosperity in Asia and around the world, have won the trust and support of many nations.”

Australia and the Philippines welcomed the move, while Indonesia signed a historic defense cooperation agreement with Japan in May.

Protesters disagree with Japan’s change

While Japan makes its case on the international stage, at home the decision has sparked protests and backlash.

Tens of thousands of people have participated in anti-war protests in recent months, concerned about changes to rules on military exports and the government’s discussions on changing the country’s pacifist constitution.

The constitution prohibits Japan from having a full military or deploying internationally. Instead, the nation maintains a “self-defense force,” designed to respond only to an internal threat.

“The country can defend itself even without being completely defenseless,” protest leader Furukawa Kanata said during a recent demonstration in front of the Diet, Japan’s parliament.

“However, in this case, they are trying to make a profit by selling weapons designed to kill people.”

Interpretations of what constitutes a threat and whether Japan could respond to a regional problem with an act of “collective self-defense” remain fiercely contested by politicians and the general public.

Ms Takaichi’s government has raised the possibility of revising Article 9 of the constitution, but needs the support of both houses of Parliament and a national referendum..

And many, like Furukawa Kanata, would vote against it.

“I think the Japanese Constitution was originally written as a result of thoughts following World War II,” he said.

“To overturn this to its foundations is, in my opinion, extremely dangerous. »