Abe's talk of proactive peace fails to convince

Japan's Upper House is expected to vote on the Abe administration's new security-related bills this week. If the chamber passes them, they will be made laws. If they fail, they will be moved back to the Lower House, where the ruling coalition occupies more than two-thirds of seats, for final approval.

One of the two bills would amend 10 existing security-related laws to ease various restrictions on Japan's Self-Defense Forces, including the long-standing ban on collective self-defense.

The other bill would create a new permanent law that would allow Japan to deploy its SDF overseas to provide logistics support for a military operation of a foreign or multinational force.

Abe is trying to sweeten the bills that are unpopular with much of the public by talking of "proactive pacifism".

Hamaji and other opponents are outraged by the Abe cabinet, saying it is ignoring constitutional provisions and risks dragging Japan into wars not of its own making.

Under the Article 9 of its Constitution, Japan foreswears the use of military force as a means of settling international disputes. Japan's SDF is restricted from using force unless directly attacked and is limited to the minimum level deemed necessary to defend Japan.

Some people in Japan contend that the bills are the start of a "slippery slope" toward offensive military action. Others argue that the conditions limiting the use of force are vague, giving future governments too much leeway for interpretation. Abe's go-to example of a situation that would warrant the SDF's right to exercise collective self-defense - a mine blockade of the Strait of Hormuz - has failed to convince opponents of the bills that it would be a threat to Japan's survival.

Abe's "proactive pacifism" has got the thumbs-up from the United States. But his message is falling on deaf ears in his own country, as there have been huge crowds of protesters of all ages around the Diet building almost every day in September determined to show their desire to keep their country pacifist.

The author is China's Daily's Tokyo bureau chief. caihong@chinadaily.com.cn

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