By Zhong Sheng

Recently, the joint military exercise "Salaknib" (Shield) between Japan, the US, the Philippines, and other countries has aroused great concern. For the first time since the end of World War II, Japanese combat troops have set foot on Philippine soil, with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) sending a contingent of about 420 personnel to participate formally and fully in the exercise. Under the pretext of "multilateral cooperation," Japan is substantially expanding its operational space. The Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) are shedding their "exclusively defense-oriented" guise and accelerating a dangerous shift toward an offensive military force.

In March this year, the Sanae Takaichi administration carried out a series of reorganizations of the JSDF with clear "offensive" characteristics, laying bare its ambition of "re-militarization." The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) abolished the Fleet Escort Force that had been in place for more than 60 years, established a new Fleet Surface Force for unified command of surface vessels, and set up an Amphibious and Mine Warfare Group with distinct offensive attributes. The JGSDF formed an intelligence unit, and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) plans to rename itself the Air and Space Self-Defense Force by the end of the fiscal year 2026. Japan's Ministry of Defense also formally deployed long-range missiles capable of "striking enemy bases" in Kumamoto and Shizuoka prefectures. A former JASDF officer, Makoto Konishi, stated that Japan's defense efforts have seen major shifts in systems, budgets, and actual deployments, deviating from the "exclusively defense-oriented policy" and moving toward a "combat-ready" military system.

The JSDF's shift to "offensiveness" means Japan's Peace Constitution is facing a crisis of derailment. The Constitution of Japan, enacted in 1946, clearly stipulates: "Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized."

However, Japanese right-wing forces have long regarded these provisions as an obstacle, never abandoning their ambition to rearm. They have deliberately sought to "unshackle" the JSDF and equip it with offensive capabilities. Under the pretext of so-called "interpreting" the Constitution, they have adopted a "salami-slicing" tactic to steadily erode the Constitution's red lines. Defense budgets have hit record highs; overseas deployment and wartime privileges have been realized through peacekeeping and counterterrorism legislation; and the "civilian control" system designed to prevent military runaway has been abolished… With these actions, Japan has been gradually hollowing out the constitutional foundation of the "exclusively defense-oriented policy." Now, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is openly seeking to enshrine the JSDF in the Constitution, aiming to legally define the JSDF as a "full-fledged military organization" through constitutional revision.

The unusual moves of the JSDF represent a departure from the post-war "peace state" ideal, and their essence is the adventurism of "neo-militarism." For a period after the war, reflecting on the painful history of "runaway" militarism, Japanese society maintained high vigilance against "internal threats," forming a self-restraining security and defense concept emphasizing "not acting without legal authorization" and the "civilian control" system. Driven by Japanese right-wing forces, however, Japan's national security "threat perception" has gradually shifted from internal to external. Right-wing politicians have hyped up "surrounding situations" and "neighboring threats," and even attempted to link the Taiwan question with Japan's "existential crisis." Such moves have completely torn off the disguise of so-called "proactive pacifism," shifting the focus of defense policy entirely to outward military deterrence and bloc confrontation.

The questions posed by history still echo today, yet current developments are deeply worrying. In the face of Japan's militaristic and adventurous moves, countries in the region and the international community must maintain a high level of vigilance and never allow "neo-militarism" to plunge regional peace into peril once again.

Editor's note: Originally published on people.com.cn, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.