Japan is arming itself quickly. His government wants to strengthen the alliance with Canada, Great Britain and the USA. Japan’s rearmament began a long time ago. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Kim Jong-un’s nuclear boast, and Chinese hardening have accelerated it.
The more conservative elements of the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party have long called for this. But several countries in the Indo-Pacific region are concerned about Japan’s growing military power. Probably in vain, because the Japanese population is aging and shrinking rapidly. The Japanese government is primarily trying to protect its external supplies.
1. Why is Japan’s rearmament worrying many Asian countries?
At the beginning of the 20th century, Japan pursued a policy of expansion. The Japanese opened prison camps across Asia similar to those operated by the Nazis in Europe. Several Asian countries, notably China, preserve the memory of the atrocities committed by the Japanese at the time for nationalist reasons. In addition, the Japanese are still hated in several Asian countries, hence the concern about their rearmament.
2. Why does Japan have an army?
In theory, Japan should have no armed forces. Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, imposed by the Americans and the Allies after their victory over Japan, is very clear on the subject. But due to the fall of China to the communists and due to the Korean War, the Americans themselves asked the Japanese government to rebuild part of their army. To circumvent the ban imposed by Article 9, the Japanese government changed the name of its army to the Self-Defense Forces of Japan. In 2015, the government renamed its army again, becoming the “Collective Self-Defense Forces,” now allowing it to defend allies around the world.
3. How does Japan intend to strengthen its military?
The Japanese government will increase its military budget from 1% to 2% of its GDP by 2027. Japan, which already has extensive military cooperation with the United States, intends to further strengthen this cooperation. But that cooperation has fallen short in the face of Xi Jinping and his threats to invade Taiwan or take effective control of sea areas in east and south China. In addition, Japan has the materials, technology, and capabilities needed to create its own nuclear bombs. Some estimate it would take Japan days to months to assemble a nuclear arsenal.
4. What is Canada’s place in the new Japanese strategy?
Japan strives to diversify its suppliers as much as possible, especially those of energy and raw materials. In particular, Canada can supply Japan with liquefied petroleum gas, strategic minerals and agricultural products. Several agreements have also been reached with Japan in these areas, and the Japanese Prime Minister’s visit to Ottawa on Thursday served to reaffirm those agreements.
5. Is Japan fully aligned with the United States?
More than ever, Japan is aligning itself with the policies of the United States. However, doubts have been cast over the will and ability of the United States to defend Japanese interests, particularly given the antics of the Republican Party. Because of this, Japan is stepping up military deals like the one struck with the UK earlier this week.
