An account of Prime Minister Abe’s prioritization of the U.S.–Japan alliance and the protection of citizens’ lives and property amid rising tensions with China, over unresolved historical and constitutional constraints.

2016-03-01

The following is a continuation of the previous section.

If that is the case, when a Japan–China clash begins to take on a sense of reality, Japan must secure American cooperation at all costs.
I believe it was during the period of the first Abe administration that I had an opportunity to meet the Prime Minister, when I asked him the following question:

“What would happen if the United States were to abandon Japan?
In situations such as PKO missions, while Japan hesitates due to domestic debate, China might eventually say, ‘In that case, we will send our forces instead.’
If that were to happen, wouldn’t the U.S.–Japan Security Treaty be blown apart?”

Prime Minister Abe responded with a very serious expression, saying, “What I am most concerned about is the U.S.–Japan relationship.”

Japan is in a state where it can neither amend its Constitution nor even abolish the enemy state clause.

One national interest is the need to eliminate the danger of leaving future generations of Japanese with a “shame” that began, of all things, with a lie, through the inheritance of the Kōno and Murayama Statements.
Another national interest is the protection of the lives and property of the Japanese people today.

Between these two national interests, Prime Minister Abe chose the latter as the responsibility of his cabinet.

To be continued.