Fumio Kishida once again advocated that the dangerous act of amending the constitution should be vigilant

　　□ Ji Yong, our correspondent in Japan

　　Recently, Fumio Kishida, the Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party, stated that "the goal of amending the constitution should be realized as soon as possible and the Self-Defense Forces should be included in Article 9 of the constitution."

　　Analysts believe that Fumio Kishida took advantage of the situation in Russia and Ukraine to exaggerate security threats, explore the way to amend the constitution and directly point to Article 9 of the constitution, which violates the voice of the international community and the peace-loving public in Japan, and will bring serious security risks to neighboring countries. , this dangerous move deserves the international community to be highly vigilant.

　　Relapsed to advocate constitutional amendment again

　　According to the Japan Broadcasting Association, Kishida Fumio stated at the 89th Liberal Democratic Party Congress on March 13 that he hopes to promote the adoption of four constitutional amendments including the inclusion of the Self-Defense Forces in Article 9 of the constitution.

He also said: "The four constitutional amendments proposed by our party (referring to the Liberal Democratic Party) are all issues that must be resolved now. It is necessary to earnestly communicate with the people and realize the basic policy of the party to amend the constitution."

　　The current Japanese Constitution was implemented in 1947, and Article 9 of it stipulates: Japan will forever renounce the launching of war, the threat of force or the use of force as a means of settling international disputes; Recognize the belligerent rights of nations.

Because of the existence of this provision, the current Japanese constitution is also known as the pacifist constitution.

　　However, since the promulgation of the pacifist constitution, Japan's conservative political forces have been trying to push for constitutional revision.

During the period of Shinzo Abe’s government, it has repeatedly advocated revision of the constitution. The Liberal Democratic Party has also formulated four constitutional revision provisions, including the inclusion of the Self-Defense Forces in Article 9 of the constitution.

After Yoshihide Suga took over as prime minister, despite his statement to advance the revision of the constitution, it has actually been at a standstill.

This time, Fumio Kishida mentioned the revision of the constitution again. It can be said that the revision of the constitution has been launched again after two years of silence in Japan.

　　According to Kyodo News, Kishida Fumio stated in an interview on November 19, 2021 that he intends to revise the constitution as one of the points of contention in the summer 2022 Senate election.

In December 2021, Fumio Kishida pointed out when attending the "Liberal Democratic Party's Constitutional Revision Realization Headquarters" meeting that parliamentary discussion and national understanding should be used as "two wheels" to advance the constitutional revision.

　　Driven by the Liberal Democratic Party, the Japan Restoration Council, and the National Democratic Party, since the current Congress, the Constitutional Review Committee of the House of Representatives of Japan has held a meeting almost every week to discuss constitutional amendments.

At present, the deliberation committee is conducting intensive discussions on the "online deliberation" of the Congress under the state of emergency.

　　Rendering Security Threats

　　Behind Fumio Kishida's high-profile statement to promote the revision of the constitution has a lot to do with Japanese conservative forces, including Shinzo Abe, inciting security threats through the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

People of insight in Japan pointed out that this is a force advocating constitutional revisions to take this opportunity to explore the way, and the Japanese people should have a clear understanding of this.

　　Amending Article 9 of the pacifist constitution is the biggest goal of Japanese conservatives since the Cold War.

After the Russian-Ukrainian conflict broke out, Fumio Kishida talked about strengthening the security system from three aspects in his speech.

The first is to re-examine and strengthen Japan's own defense system, and integrate the revision of three security-related documents including the "National Security Guarantee Strategy" to enhance defense capabilities; the second is to further strengthen the Japan-U.S. The cornerstone of social peace and stability”; the third is to reshape the international order and promote the reform of the United Nations and the Security Council that Japan has been calling for for many years.

At the same time, conservative forces are exaggerating security threats, clamoring that only by amending Article 9 can "military aggression" by other countries be avoided.

　　In fact, aside from the complicated realities and historical reasons behind the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, it is logically untenable for conservative forces in Japan to advocate the revision of Article 9 of the Constitution.

　　As we all know, Article 9 of the Constitution is aimed at Japan's behavior of launching a war of aggression against foreign countries in World War II, which constitutionally eliminates the possibility of Japan's re-arming and aggression.

However, the Japanese government has repeatedly reinterpreted Article 9, so that the right to engage in war, the right to self-defense, and the scope of self-defense are all very different from the original law.

For example, the "capacity to attack enemy bases", which has been vigorously discussed in Japan in the past two years, has been defined as a defense force.

　　Analysts in Japan said that inciting external security threats to pave the way for the revision of Article 9 of the Constitution is a common tactic of conservative forces. same.

For conservative forces, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict undoubtedly provides an excellent excuse for them to advocate constitutional revision and break free from the shackles of the post-war system.

　　Destroying regional security and stability

　　Whether Japan revises the pacifist constitution, especially Article 9 of the constitution, is related to whether Japan can adhere to the path of peaceful development, and will have a significant impact on the security situation in the surrounding area and even in the region.

　　If the government of Fumio Kishida this time ignores the opposition of people of insight in the world and Japan and the majority of the public, and pushes forward with the revision of the constitution, it will not only undermine regional stability, but also challenge the entire post-World War II international order.

By then, destabilizing factors in East Asia will increase, and it will also promote an arms race dominated by nuclear weapons in Northeast Asia.

　　However, in Japan, there is a relatively high threshold in terms of procedures for amending the constitution.

At present, among the 245 seats in the Japanese Senate, the coalition ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito occupy 113 and 28 seats respectively, plus the 16 seats of the Japan Restoration Association, which supports the revision of the constitution. .

Among the 465 seats in the House of Representatives, the Liberal Democratic Party, the Citizens Party and the Restoration Association have 261, 32, and 41 seats respectively, accounting for 71.8% of the seats in the House of Representatives.

　　According to the Japanese Constitution, amendments to the constitution must be approved by more than one-half of the members of the Constitutional Review Council of the House of Representatives and the House of Representatives, and then more than two-thirds of the members of the House of Representatives and the House of Representatives initiate a motion to amend the constitution, and finally hold a referendum and obtain more than half of them. Agree.

　　For the government of Fumio Kishida, the re-election of the upper house in July is very important for the revision of the constitution and the stability of the regime.

On the 13th, Fumio Kishida said in his speech: "In any case, the upcoming Senate election is the top priority. The Liberal Democratic Party must unite and resolutely win the election." First, to advance the discussion on constitutional amendments.

　　Although the forces supporting the revision of the constitution among the political parties in Japan are gradually gaining the upper hand, and the opposition parties such as the Japan Restoration Association and the National Democratic Party also support the revision of the constitution, but in terms of public opinion polls, according to the results of public opinion surveys by major media such as the Asahi Shimbun Look, the majority of the people oppose changing Article 9 of the constitution.

　　Due to historical reasons, Japan's revision of the pacifist constitution has always been highly concerned by the victims of World War II.

Taking history as a mirror, adhering to the direction of peaceful development, developing good-neighborly and friendly relations with neighboring and regional countries, and maintaining and promoting world peace, stability and prosperity are Japan's national responsibilities.

If the Japanese government promotes substantive revision of the constitution and opens the door for military "relaxation", it is likely to fundamentally change the direction of Japan's national development since World War II. This is unacceptable to the majority of Asian people, including the peace-loving Japanese people. .

　　The international community hopes that the Japanese side will deeply learn the lessons of history, listen to the voices of the peace-loving public in Japan and abroad, continue to adhere to the path of peaceful development, and take concrete actions to win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community.