Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba advocates for an Asian NATO-style collective defense system to counter China. While appealing to Japan, the idea faces skepticism in Southeast Asia.
Japan ese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is a proponent of a collective defence system in Asia to counter China. Its appeal is not so clear for Southeast Asia, say RSIS’ Benjamin Ho and SMU’s William A Callahan. Japan 's new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks during a press conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, Japan on Oct 1, 2024. (Photo: Yuichi Yamazaki/Pool via Reuters)In his words,'Ukraine today is Asia tomorrow'.
Mr Ishiba drew parallels between the actions of China to those of Russia, as well as between Taiwan and Ukraine. In his view, the'absence of a collective self-defence system like NATO in Asia means that wars are likely to break out because there is no obligation for mutual defence'.It is not difficult to see why an Asian NATO appeals to Japan – it would serve Japanese defence requirements well. The Japanese Constitution, particularly Article 9, permits only the use of minimum necessary force to defend the territory and population of Japan, and not others. Its military after World War II is known as the Self-Defense Forces. In the event of conflict in the region, Japan cannot be involved unless its own territory and citizens are under risk of being attacked. The only other instance Japan can resort to military force to defend others is if its ally - the United States - was being attacked. Given that this is very unlikely, Tokyo's hands are essentially tied by its own Constitution - which was written by the United States no less. Japan has effectively no ability to act preemptively, including possessing a first-strike capability if it feels it is being threatened.without contravening its own Constitution. In short, Tokyo could be in greater control of its own destiny without being overly dependent on Washington's agenda or priorities.NATO’s emergence in 1949 marked the beginning of the Cold War, which was a dramatic change from how the US and the Soviet Union cooperated to defeat Nazi Germany in World War I
JAPAN CHINA ASIAN NATO DEFENSE SECURITY
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