The upgrading of Japan's Defense Agency to a full ministry on
Tuesday marked a critical step toward Tokyo becoming a major
military power. It will have an important influence on the
country's efforts to build up its military.
Ostensibly, the renaming is just about the change of a single
word. But in essence, the new ministry is fundamentally different
from its predecessor. It is by no means an isolated move, but a
pivotal part of Japan's strategy for acquiring a greater military
capability and for revising its self-defense-only policy.
Established in 1954, the defense agency has been restricted by
Japan's pacifist constitution, which renounces war. Its main tasks
have been national defense, preserving social security and domestic
disaster relief.
The upgrading comes as Japan, which was defeated in World War
II, is eager to free itself from the restrictions. The move is seen
as a bid to justify overseas operations by Japan's Self-Defense
Force.
Japan's military spending has been among the highest in the
world and it with the most advanced weaponry in Asia it has a
powerful combat capability.
The powers of the new ministry have been significantly extended.
It will be given a freer rein to increase the country's defense
expenditure and military strength. As a ministry, it also has
greater budgetary powers and can directly present the defense
budget to parliament, thus having a greater say in the process of
formulating budgets.
By revamping the Self-Defense Force law, which has upgraded the
force's overseas missions and logistical support for the US during
wartime from minor to essential tasks, Japan has laid the legal
groundwork for giving the force unrestrained power to conduct
global operations.
Japan's pacifist constitution renounces war and the threat or
use of force in settling international disputes. It also strips the
country of the right to maintain military power, but this has
already been bypassed.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is struggling free of the
shackles of the constitution and upgrading the defense agency will
speed up this process.
The upgrade not only challenges the civilian control of the
Self-Defense Force but the regional equilibrium in Northeast
Asia.
People have every reason to doubt whether Japan is honoring its
commitment to develop peacefully and to acknowledge its history
--the country continues to raise the profile of its military, boost
its defense power and seeking a broader role abroad for its
forces.
Japan's military build-up is bound to cause its Asian neighbors,
who suffered enormously from its aggression during World War II, to
worry and to be more vigilant.
(Xinhua News Agency January 10, 2007)
