4 ms·
It's interesting to see how countries are reinterpreting laws to 'expand' the legal boundaries of conflict. Essentially, Japan now interprets 'self-defense' to
by thomasfoster96 11y ago
It's interesting to see how countries are reinterpreting laws to 'expand' the legal boundaries of conflict. Essentially, Japan now interprets 'self-defense' to no longer just mean defending the country when under attack, but to also include assisting allies in foreign countries. This sort of the same legal basis most countries are using to bomb targets in Syria (and Japan will probably use it too) - Iraq has asked the US and it's allies to help them defend themselves against ISIS, and bombing Syria to defeat ISIS counts as defending Iraq.
- x5n1 11y agoEverything is fair in love and war.
- adrianN 11y agoIt's exactly the same argument Germany uses to send the Bundeswehr to Afghanistan. "Deutschlands Freiheit wird am Hindukusch verteidigt" - "Germany's freedom is defended at the Hindukush."
- archlight 11y agoIt paves way to start a war by ripping off legal framework first like "versailles treaty". Germany earns the trust to be responsible country to do peacekeeping overseas by reconciling with neighbours. Japan is different story. it hasn't even shown any gesture of sincere apology.
- norswap 11y agoSomehow I don't think we're going to see the fabled Japanese mechas run over Europe and the US any time soon :)
- toyg 11y agoThis is not about the West, it's about the South China Sea. Chinese mechas will fight it out with Japanese ones.
- Navarr 11y agoOther than the millions of times the country has apologized and that it has raised an entire generation of peace loving anti-war people. Abe and his crew are voted in by the older, xenophobic crowd, which remains the majority with Japan's dwindling population. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war_apology_statements_issued_by_Japan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war_apology_statements... "Apology is a very important thing in Japan."
- njharman 11y agoHuh, when I saw "same argument Germany" I thought you were gonna call back to the Third Reich's explaining various annexations / occupations as "defending the German people in those lands".
- eplanit 11y agoThe political pressure and logical interests of self-defense are not surprising: one example being that a Japanese citizen was beheaded by ISIS earlier this year[1]. After such a shocking event, it seems very reasonable for the Japanese government to recognize the absurdity how of they are/were legally limited in their ability to respond. [1] http://www.haaretz.com/news/world/1.640063 http://www.haaretz.com/news/world/1.640063
- 6t6t6 11y agoThis law is about controlling oil wells in the middle east. Not about protecting a war otaku that went to play the soldier in Siria.