Daily Times

The beheading of two Japanese citizens by Islamic State (IS) has prompted Premier Shinzo Abe to consider a change in the country’s defence policy. The emerging circumstances have forced the government to convert its long-constrained military into a robust force capable of carrying out overseas rescue operations for the safety of its citizens. Successive governments in Japan have long been working under the US influence and relying on the latter’s umbrella for meeting their defence needs. Although Japan is the third largest world economy and a modern state, yet it has maintained its Self-Defence Forces in a home-bound defensive mode as desired by the US and the world since World War II. Seventy years on, the global scenario has changed. The negative effects of the recent wave of terrorism have also embroiled Japan now and forced its government to review its non-combat overseas policy. Japan is finding it can no longer live in strategic isolation in a world that has become a global village. The non-military Japanese presence is now visible in various parts of the world. The corollary to this is that Japan can no longer remain immune to the violence prevailing in the world. The present leadership of Japan is therefore pondering over the building of a strong military capable of safeguarding its citizens outside Japan. However, due to lack of legislation, the matter has not yet found practical expression. Another factor is opposition from a considerable section of Japanese citizens, who fear a return to the aggressive militarism of the past. The two Japanese killed became targets only because Mr Abe extended financial and humanitarian aid to the opponents of IS. Even this was not acceptable to IS who beheaded the Japanese hostages and issued a warning to the Japanese prime minister. The purpose is clear: terrorise all who are opposed to IS’s barbarism. Japan has been forced to initiate a debate on how to check such horrible acts against Japanese citizens.

There is a likelihood that legislation would be enacted this year to allow launching of overseas rescue missions to extract Japanese citizens under threat. Japan would need to build a strong intelligence service and strike force, which now appear a necessity in this hostile world. The Japanese government cannot simply sit silent and let its citizens die at the hands of terrorists. A modern military setup capable of protecting Japanese citizens abroad has now become necessary for this technologically advanced nation, but Japan must simultaneously reassure its allies and neighbours that this does not mean a return to militarism. *