Despite vehement opposition at home and abroad, Japan's controversial security laws took effect on Tuesday.
In blatant violation of the country's pacifist Constitution, the "war legislation" that allows Japan's Self-Defense Forces to combat overseas puts regional peace and stability in danger.
As champion of the security legislation, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has alleged that the laws are intended to protect Japan. However, marking an overhaul of Japan's exclusively defensive defense posture, the new security laws will only bring more insecurity to Japan itself and the world.
With the new security laws, Japan will face much higher risks of being embroiled in wars, and civilians will also be exposed to more dangers or be targeted in war zones around the world.
It is well known that one of the important reasons why Japan can become such a prosperous nation is its firm adherence to the pacifist Constitution and focus on economic development. When Japan abandons pacifism and adventures with the new security legislation that carries the risk of drawing fire against itself, what else would be accomplished except for the personal ambition of some hawkish and historical revisionist politicians?
At the same time, there is no doubt that a reinforced U.S.-Japan military alliance will be one of the direct consequences of the implementation of the new security legislation. Since World War II, the United States has played the role as a protector of Japan, with the essence of their military alliance to be that the United States provides military protection to Japan in exchange for U.S. army's almost permanent presence in the country's territory.
However, after the new security laws took effect, the current one-way defense aid from the United States to Japan will be replaced by mutual defense between the two countries, which comes closer to a military alliance in modern times.
Looking back in history, every time when Japan made military alliances with big powers, its appetite for military expansions would be stimulated, ending up embroiling Japan and other Asian countries in wars.
For instance, two years after the Anglo-Japanese Alliance was signed between Britain and Japan in 1902, Japan waged the Russo-Japanese War to contest colony with Russia in Northeast Asia and entered the First World War later in 1914. After the Tripartite Pact was signed in 1940 between Germany, Italy and Japan, the Second World War was further escalated by the Axis powers, which brought great disaster to the world.
Will the U.S.-Japan military alliance be an exception? Judging from Japan's recent moves of stirring up trouble in the Asia-Pacific region with the backing of U.S. hegemony, there is reason to feel worried.
As Japan is marching on the road of militarization, other countries, especially its Asian neighbors, should be vigilant. Japanese people should also continue to oppose the plot that may let Japan repeat its historical mistakes.
It is also high time that the Japanese government learn lessons from history, take into account the security concerns of its Asian neighbors, and act prudently when dealing with military and security issues.
