ASIA-PACIFIC REPORT: JAPAN’S NEW REALITY
Terrorism: Country’s pacifist psyche has been torn asunder
It is ironic that, within a week of writing that East Asia does not usually draw the ire of extreme Islamic fundamentalists, the region (or, more specifically, one of the biggest players in the region) is now deeply involved in the latest hostage situation in Islamic State-held areas of Syria and Iraq.
The apparent killings of Japanese nationals Haruna Yukawa and journalist Kenji Goto have sent shock waves through the East Asian nation. And rightfully so: After Japan adopted a pacifist constitution following the Second World War, entire generations have now grown up unaccustomed to the concept of their nation being involved in an international conflict in such a direct way.
The news that two Japanese citizens were at the centre of the Islamic State crisis in the Middle East made such an impact on Japan’s psyche that stories about the captives — and what Tokyo must do in response — have dominated headlines for more than two weeks. The coverage has been unrelenting — from Tokyo’s reaction and the reasons the two men were in Syria in the first place, to how this will impact Japan’s future role in global affairs.
An Islamic State video released over the weekend purports to show the beheading of Goto, while the fate of a captured Jordanian air force pilot, remains unknown. Japan and Jordan were negotiating with Islamic State hostage takers. Goto’s mother, Junko Ishido, made an emotional plea to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to bring her son home.
The original ransom demand prior to the murder of Yukawa was $200 million US, which changed to the release of a would-be suicide bomber currently jailed in Jordan.
Abe’s government said repeatedly it was doing all that it could to secure Goto’s release. But the prime minister has also been adamant that Japan will not give in to terrorism, and Tokyo will continue to pursue a policy of “proactive contributions to peace” in the form of $200 million it has promised to regional allies in humanitarian assistance and infrastructure development.
“Extremism is now a major threat to the international community,” Abe said in a statement on Jan. 20. “Despicable acts of terrorism are unforgivable for any reason. Japan resolutely condemns them.”
Aside from the specifics of this particular case, there is now growing debate within Japan over what the country’s role should be as it moves to become more of a global geopolitical player — especially in its relations with strategic allies who may be fighting major battles in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.
Japan has traditionally been slow to respond to major conflicts undertaken by its allies — specifically, the United States and Britain. According to “Japan’s Response to Terrorism,” a paper written by International University of Japan researcher Tomohito Shinoda, Japan’s tepid initial response to the Persian Gulf War in 1990 resulted in the allies’ response of “not highly appreciated,” triggering a number of changes for a government previously inexperienced in dealing with global conflicts. Following the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, thenprime minister Junichiro Koizumi was swift to respond with “intelligence collection, shipment of supplies, medical services and humanitarian relief” to support its allies. The support included $10 million for cleanup in the United States and financial aid to India and Pakistan to counter the Taliban-regime in Afghanistan.
“It was more than many experts in Japan and the United States had expected, and it was presented in a timely manner,” Shinoda wrote, adding that it can be viewed as a turning point in Japan’s involvement in conflicts abroad.
Fast-forward to today and Abe’s government has made reenergizing Japan — economically and psychologically — a top priority. The much-touted “Abenomics” stimulus and economic reform plan was a key part of that effort — Tokyo needed to lift Japan out of a disastrous deflationary cycle.
But also part of the effort has been Japan’s move to play a more prominent role globally. In recent years, Tokyo has pushed for loosening constitutional restrictions to allow for “collective self-defence” — or the ability to take military action if any ally is attacked. Currently, the constitution is extremely strict in terms of allowing the Japanese Self-Defense Force to participate in anything not deemed selfdefence.
The move coincided with Tokyo moving closer to strategic allies like the United States as a dispute over islands in the East China Sea chilled relations with China, its main rival in East Asia. But as Tokyo steps more and more into the limelight in supporting its allies, it is also becoming more entangled in its allies’ battles, as the Islamic State situation shows.
According to newspaper Sankei, 59 per cent of Japanese citizens said Tokyo’s response to the hostage taking has been adequate.
But there are a few publications, most notably the tabloid Nikkan Gendai, that have criticized Tokyo’s handling of the case. Those who fervently support the pacifist constitution are protesting any Japanese involvement in the Middle East. At the same time, some are arguing that allowing “collective self-defence” would allow Tokyo more flexibility in dealing with these kinds of incidents.