By Zhao Yongjie and Sun Huili
赵永杰 孙会丽
According to media reports, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)'s Kaga went to the Naval Base San Diego in the US for sea trials early this month. Some analysts pointed out that the sea trials mainly aim to verify the results of the first phase of aircraft carrier conversion completed at the end of this March. The completion of the take-off and landing test of the F-35B fighter jet means that Japan is one step closer to the goal of truly owning an aircraft carrier. Japan is going further and further away from the path of its pacifist Constitution, an act warranting high vigilance from the international community.
据媒体报道，日本海上自卫队“加贺”号于本月初前往美国圣迭戈海军基地进行海上测试。有分析指出，“加贺”号此次赴美主要是为了验证今年3月底完成的第一阶段航母化改装成果，而F-35B战斗机完成起降测试，则意味着日本距离真正拥有航母的目标更近了一步。日本在背离和平宪法的道路上越走越远，需要引起国际社会高度警惕。
During World War II, Japan had multiple aircraft carriers, with the original Kaga being one of them. This vessel was sunk during the Battle of Midway in 1942. Japanese right-wing forces never abandoned their ambitions to redevelop aircraft carriers after Japan's defeat in World War II. In recent years, the displacement of large ships of the JMSDF, from the Osumi class to the Hyuga class and then to the Izumo class, has rapidly increased from less than 10,000 tons to 26,000 tons, gradually approaching that of an aircraft carriers.
二战期间，日本曾拥有多艘航母，最初的“加贺”号便是其中之一。该舰在1942年的中途岛海战中被击沉。二战战败后，日本右翼从未放弃重新发展航母的野心。近年来，从大隅级到日向级再到出云级，日本海上自卫队大型舰艇的排水量从不足1万吨快速上升到2.6万吨，逐步接近真正的航母。
The Kaga, which was commissioned in March 2017, is currently one of the largest vessels in the JMSDF in terms of tonnage. Initially, Japan described the Kaga as a "large helicopter destroyer" with no capabilities for the take-off and landing of fighter jets. However, with its full-length flight deck design, below-deck hangar, and aircraft elevators, it has long been regarded externally as a de facto aircraft carrier. By the end of 2018, the Japanese government disclosed its true intentions. It outlined in its new National Defense Program Guidelines and Medium Term Defense Program that, starting in 2020, both the Izumo and the Kaga would be modified to accommodate the F-35B fighter jets acquired from the US.
此次赴美进行测试的“加贺”号于2017年3月正式服役，是日本海上自卫队目前吨位最大的舰艇之一。建造之初，日本对外声称该舰为“大型直升机驱逐舰”，并表示其不具备起降战斗机的功能。然而，“加贺”号采用直通甲板布局设计，配备甲板下机库、飞机升降机等设施，一直被外界视为准航母。2018年底，日本政府不再遮掩，在新《防卫计划大纲》和新《中期防卫力量整备计划》中明确表示，将从2020年开始对“出云”号和“加贺”号进行航母化改装，使其能够搭载从美国引进的F-35B战斗机。
According to the Japan Ministry of Defense's plan, the modification for the Izumo and the Kaga consists of two phases. The first phase focuses on the flight deck and takeoff and landing systems, while the second phase involves internal structural modifications, such as reconfiguring the hangar and ammunition depot. The first phase has been completed on both ships, and the second phase is expected to start in early 2025 and conclude in March 2027. Japan had also previously agreed with the US to purchase 42 F-35B fighter jets by 2025. Japan will have two aircraft carriers once these modifications are complete.
根据日本防卫省的计划，“出云”号和“加贺”号的改装分为两个阶段：第一阶段主要针对飞行甲板和起降系统；第二阶段主要涉及舰体内部结构改造，包括机库、弹药库等空间的重新规划。目前，两艘舰艇的第一阶段改装均已完成，第二阶段改装预计2025年初启动，2027年3月完成。此前，日本与美国敲定了2025年前采购42架F-35B战斗机的合同。一旦“加贺”号与“出云”号完成改装，日本将拥有双航母。
According to the pacifist Constitution, Japan adheres to the principle of "exclusively defense-oriented policy", does not maintain land, sea, air and other war potential, and renounces war as the right of belligerency of the state. However, after owning an aircraft carrier, Japan's sea and air combat capabilities will be greatly improved, and the pacifist Constitution will exist in name only.
按照和平宪法规定，日本奉行“专守防卫”原则，不保持陆海空军及其他战争力量，不承认国家的交战权。然而，拥有航母后，日本的海空作战能力将大幅提升，和平宪法也将名存实亡。
In fact, Japan's postwar right-wing forces have never abandoned their aspirations to become a military power. In 2015, the Abe administration forcibly lifted the ban on collective self-defense and eliminated the restrictions on the scope of activities of the SDF imposed by the Japanese Constitution. In late 2022, the Kishida administration pushed through three security policy documents including the National Security Strategy(NSS), the National Defense Strategy(NDS) and the Defense Buildup Program(DBP) to seek the capability for counterstrike against enemy bases, and break from the pacifist Constitution and the "exclusively defense-oriented policy". This shift signals a major postwar transformation in Japan's security policy. These "neo-militarism" moves not only foster anxiety and unrest among the Japanese people but also heighten the vigilance and concerns of Japan's Asian neighbors and the international community about its development direction.
事实上，二战结束以来，日本右翼从未放弃“军事大国梦”。2015年安倍晋三政府强行解禁集体自卫权，令日本宪法对自卫队施加的活动范围限制消失。2022年底，岸田文雄政府强行通过新版《国家安全保障战略》《国家防卫战略》和《防卫力量整备计划》三份安保政策文件，谋求获得“对敌基地攻击能力”、突破和平宪法约束和“专守防卫”承诺，标志着战后日本安保政策的重大转变。日本的这些“新军国主义”动向，不仅让日本民众陷入恐慌与不安，更加剧了亚洲邻国和国际社会对日本未来发展方向的警惕和担忧。
Japan's continued military expansion cannot happen without the tacit approval of the US. In recent years, the US has sought to create alliances in the Asia-Pacific and has used Japan as a pawn in its "Indo-Pacific Strategy". The US has continuously supported Japan's military loosening. However, the Asia-Pacific should remain a zone of peace and development, not an arena for great power competition. Japan's cooperation with the US in fostering camp confrontations and great power competition not only endangers regional peace and stability but ultimately undermines its own security and development. The right choice for Japan is to learn from historical lessons, be prudent in words and deeds in the field of military security and win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community through practical actions.
日本不断进行军事扩张，离不开美国的默许。近年来，美国在亚太地区拉帮结派组“小圈子”，将日本视为推行所谓“印太战略”的“马前卒”，不断支持日本进行军事松绑。然而，亚太地区是和平发展的高地，不应成为大国博弈的棋局。日本为一己之私配合美国搞阵营对抗和大国竞争，不仅严重危害地区和平稳定，最终也不利于日本自身的安全和发展。深刻汲取历史教训，在军事安全领域谨言慎行，以实际行动取信于亚洲邻国和国际社会，对日本而言才是正确选择。
(The authors are from the PLA Naval Research Academy.)
（作者单位：海军研究院）
