By Clint Richards
Japan may use the prospect of large arms deals with Australia to influence public sentiment over military normalization.
Two new pieces of information came out on Tuesday regarding Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s push to normalize Japan’s military capabilities. The first concerns the ongoing coalition discussions between the LDP and its junior partner New Komeito, as Abe is looking to do away with the concept of “non-combat zones” for the Self-Defense Forces. The second involves Japan’s new attempt to bolster security ties with Australia by increasing their level of arms trade.
First, the current coalition government discussions surrounding the reinterpretation of Article 9 of the Constitution have settled around the issue of “non-combat zones,” which defines how the SDF can be integrated into other countries combat operations. The restriction theoretically bans the SDF from actions such as providing logistical support in combat zones, ammunition and arms to coalition troops, or even refueling U.S. aircraft en route for combat missions.
The Abe government wants to remove this standard, and the Japan Times quoted a high-ranking official within the LDP as saying the removal of this concept could allow Japan to provide arms and ammunition to allied troops in active combat. However, New Komeito has not been supportive of this idea, with its vice president Kazuo Kitagawa saying the new standards “could allow the SDF to conduct any missions other than actual combat. We asked the government to come up with concrete examples as to what the SDF can and cannot do if these standards apply.”
Read the full story at The Diplomat