'Pandora's Box' fear as Japan passes bills empowering its military to fight overseas
Nod to legislation expanding country's military role overseas threatens regional security and is aimed at checking China's rise, analysts warn
Japan's passing of security bills that expand its military role overseas was an "unprecedented" step that breached its pacifist constitution, Beijing said yesterday, as experts warned it posed a major threat to regional security and was aimed at checking China's rise.
Soon after the Japanese parliament's upper house passed the bills on yesterday at about 2.20am, China's foreign ministry urged its neighbour to act prudently in the field of military security and heed domestic and international concerns.
"Japan's recent military buildup and drastic changes to its military and security policies are out of step with the trend of the times featuring peace, development and cooperation," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
Hours later the defence ministry said by forcing through the bills in spite of strong opposition at home and abroad, the Japanese parliament had brought "unprecedented change" to the country's military policy and breached its pacifist constitution.
The newly enacted legislation enables the expansion of Japan's Self-Defence Forces' overseas operations. Japan can now exercise the right to collective self- defence or come to the aid of allies, such as the United States, who come under attack even if Japan itself is not targeted.
Zhou Yongsheng , a Japan expert at China Foreign Affairs University, said the passage of the bills posed a great threat to China as it granted Japan the right to foreign wars, which was banned in its constitution.
"After obtaining such a right, [Japan] can use it to get involved in regional warfare when it deems necessary. It adds uncertainties that impede peace and stability to the Asia Pacific region," Zhou said, likening the passage of the bills to opening "Pandora's box".
Jiang Lifeng, former director of the Institute of Japanese Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's move to push through the bills was aimed at China, specifically at the South China Sea disputes.
"The new security bills state that Japan can deploy military action not only when its own interest is at stake, but also when allies and friendly countries are under threat," he said.
"In the South China Sea, [Japan] is now chumming up with the Philippines, which it can declare as a friendly nation. If the Philippines said its national interest was threatened and asked for help, Japan could now send troops to the South China Sea under the new security bills," Jiang said.
Jiang said the passage of the bills would greatly affect Sino-Japanese relations, as Japan had steered away from its post-war path of pacifist principles.
Jiang Yuechun , a professor at the China Institute of International Studies, said the legislation signalled a "fundamental change" in Japan's defence policy, and was in line with its effort to curb China's rise.
Analysts said the bills were likely to be on the agenda when President Xi Jinping meets US counterpart Barack Obama during his state visit this week.
