The purported beheading by Islamic State (IS) of two Japanese journalists, and its warning that Japan would be one of its military targets in future, pose a challenge to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government. Its impact would perhaps mark a critical shift in Japanese foreign policy and public opinion. Japan has largely been insulated from international terrorism in the past decade and radical Islam has little or almost nil hold in the country. Japan’s pacifism is embodied in its Constitution of 1946, through which it has renounced war and outlawed belligerent responses to international disputes. Japan does not maintain an army with war potential, except for the de facto Japan Self-Defence Forces (JSDF) that is intended to maintain peace and order. With a pacifist foreign policy that strongly distances itself from militaristic ventures, why is Japan now a target of Islamic terrorism?
The fact is that Japan’s foreign policy has been undergoing several changes in the past few years. Prime Minister Abe, a conservative-nationalist, has been gradually rewriting the pacifist Constitution, especially since his 2012 re-election. The defence budget was considerably enhanced, the ban on arms exports was lifted and the capabilities of the JSDF were expanded. A reinterpretation of Article 9 of the Constitution now allows Japan to use force to defend its allies under attack. Also, Japan’s relations with the Middle East are becoming more central — and controversial. Being a resource-poor country, it is one of the largest importers of crude oil from the region. Political stability in the Middle East is in Japan’s own interests. Mr. Abe, during his recent visits to Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel and Palestine, pledged $200 million in non-military aid for countries fighting IS. He also promised humanitarian and infrastructure assistance for those fighting terrorism, as well as for refugees displaced from Syria and Iraq following IS activity. Mr. Abe’s attempts to gain prominence on the international stage by playing a bigger role in the West’s counter-terrorism policy has clearly drawn bitter reactions from IS, as reflected in the outrageous beheadings. With the widespread shock at these recent events, the Japanese public will be faced with important questions on how to judge Prime Minister Abe’s proactive and gradually militarised foreign policy. Regardless, Mr. Abe has unequivocally stated that the country “will not give in to terrorism” and will “work alongside the international community to make them pay for their sins.” It is evident that Japan’s emerging foreign policy is in for some testing times.
