Cooperation key to security

www.yomiuri.co.jp

Yomiuri Shimbun

The two factors posing the most serious threat to the international community are international terrorism and the existence of nations that may provide terrorists with nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction.

In addition to the war against terrorism that has been conducted in Afghanistan and in other areas, it is inevitable this year that the international community must deal with increased tension related to Iraq and North Korea.

Japan, too, is now urged to take a new approach toward these nations.

First, let us talk about Iraq.

"The international community must stand together to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction," Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said in a speech to a New York audience in September during a visit on the first anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

It is highly likely that the United States will go to war against Iraq as early as this month. If the United States does launch an attack, what should Japan do? Whether Japan likes it or not, there will be a time when people will question the real intention of Koizumi's September speech, which stressed the importance of international coordination.

The government has been considering wide-ranging plans for international cooperation, including providing help to refugees, in the event of an attack on Iraq. The major focus has been on how to use the Self-Defense Forces.

===

Beefing up logistic support

Should the United States and its allies attack Iraq, the government is considering "indirect support" measures, based on beefing up logistic support to the U.S.-led forces engaged in the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and shouldering some of their burdens. The government has already dispatched an Aegis-equipped destroyer to the Indian Ocean in line with this plan to ensure it will be in place when the attack starts.

Another idea that has surfaced recently is to dispatch Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers to the Gulf under special maritime orders to take actions necessary to protect Japanese tankers in the region.

The government has also been studying a plan to send SDF personnel to help rebuild a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq by enacting a new law.

Japan depends on the Middle East for about 90 percent of its crude oil imports. Instability there could result in a serious crisis in this country.

If the international community takes a stand and backs coordinated action to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Japan, as a matter of course, should participate and take the steps necessary to support such actions.

However, no in-depth discussions have been held in the Diet or elsewhere, even though the possibility of an attack on Iraq has existed since the issue of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction resurfaced last year. The major reason for the current situation has been the government's evasive attitude toward discussion of concrete issues concerning the attack on Iraq. As seen in the enacting of the Antiterrorism Law, the government has relied solely on last-minute measures.

===

Confronting North Korea

As the Iraq crisis gathers momentum, the United States will most likely press North Korea in a more determined way to abandon its nuclear development program.

The North Korean issue is directly connected to the security of Japan. As in the case of Iraq, Japan must make a strong appeal to the international community to unite and confront North Korea.

To do so, Japan has to positively participate in international cooperative actions. This policy should be added to the main pillars of Japan's security policy along with building up the nation's defensive capability and strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance. The government has to carefully study what Japan can do in this regard from a positive point of view.

The first step that should be taken is to streamline existing laws immediately to permit permanent legislation to enable the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces for international peacekeeping operations.

Such a move would aim at dispatching the SDF for international peacekeeping activities without enacting additional laws if only some conditions are met--such as conformity with U.N. resolutions and the Japan-U.S. security arrangement. The government should no longer rely on stopgap responses to this issue.

International peacekeeping missions constitute "collateral duties," similar to tasks such as transport of Antarctic expedition teams under the Self-Defense Forces Law. However, considering the importance of peacekeeping missions, it is quite proper that the duties be categorized as part of the SDF's main duties--defense of the nation.

It is also vital to review the deceptive interpretation of the Constitution by the Cabinet Legislation Bureau. For instance, it argues that Japan has a right to collective self-defense, but cannot exercise it--an obvious contradiction. It also professes the idea that Japan's logistic support--such as supply and transport--is allowed under the Constitution unless such action constitutes the use of force together with military forces of other countries. These arguments, quite contrary to international common sense, have been used as the grounds for unjustifiably suppressing SDF activities.

It should not be forgotten that security legislation should be formed based on international standards.

===

Prepare for terrorism

Globalization is rapidly progressing and thus the threat of terrorism has spread across the world. Domestic arrangements against terrorism must also be coordinated properly.

The optimistic idea that Japan alone is free from terrorism may ironically produce a situation of making the country an easy target for terrorists.

Of prime importance is preventing terrorists from entering Japan by checking and controlling their entries. To do so, it is important for immigration and police authorities as well as other government offices concerned to cooperate in gathering and analyzing information on terrorists.

The most commonly raised and most difficult question is how to protect the privacy of individuals while gathering intelligence.

Of course, unjust interference with human rights should not be allowed. However, it is also necessary for all of us to fully acknowledge that social defense against terrorism rests on the shoulders of each member of the public.

Japan does not have an espionage prevention law under which those who leak classified information concerning security matters are severely punished. Some point out that this situation presents a major obstacle for Japan to receive intelligence support from the United States. If this is true, it may be necessary for us to debate the necessity of enacting such a law.

With these international crises before us, there are a variety of things Japan should do, including early enactment of emergency legislation. Politicians, obsessed with the idea that Japan is always peaceful, should not be allowed to maintain their irresponsible attitude any longer.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 6)