Many in Japan still fear the possible threat of war

Rally for peace: Holding banners reading ‘No War’, demonstrators rally against the controversial security Bills outside Japan’s parliament in Tokyo. — EPA

TOKYO: Several thousand people marched across the capital city in protest against government plans to enact a new set of security laws.

Some 6,500 protestors gathered at Tokyo’s Shibuya district, a renowned fashion centre, chanting slogans including “no war!” and “no change in the law!” in unison.

Dr Ken Jimbo, a specialist in international security and security in Asia Pacific, however, criticised the protests, saying that there was a paramount need for the country to address its “security lows”.

Japan was forced to disarm after World War II and had to rely on its Self-Defence Forces for security since 1954.

Dr Jimbo, an assistant professor at Keio University, explained that there were severe limitations when engaging in peacekeeping operations.

“We are trying to address 11 security lows that have been existing for many years to accommodate the present security concerns,“ he said.

Dr Jimbo was referring to the growing threats by China on the disputed ownership of the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

Fearing the Chinese would impose “de facto military control” over the islands, he said Japan should proportionally step up its firepower as well as train additional military personnel.

However, he said, current legislation prevented the country from going ahead with such plans.

Led by the administration of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the bill, once enacted, will allow “seamless responses to any situation to secure the lives and peaceful livelihood of the Japa­nese people”.

However, the new laws will also give Japan the greenlight to answer the call to arms in aid of a besieged ally-nation if the attack is believed to result in “threatening Japan’s survival”.

Many in Japan believe this will allow the country to go to war, which sparked severe opposition in some sectors of the community.

The bills were passed in Parliament’s lower house in July and will have to be voted by the members of the Upper House before being enacted as law.

It is likely that the bills will be successfully passed through via support from the ruling bloc alone.

Opposition MPs are currently in the midst of negotiation and have submitted their counterproposals to the ruling coalition.