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JAPAN
(Continued from page 18)
ment in Asia has now begun to
translate itself into tangible shifts
in policy. The Japanese are
increasing their military expendi–
t ures. They are attempting to
improve their combat prepared–
ness.
Last July, the J apanese govern–
ment approved a defense budget
increase of 9.7 percent to $10.9
billion for fiscal 1981. (J apan
Defense Agency Director J oji
Omura had wanted a 15 percent
increase.) The additional funds
will be used to buy more jet
fighters, patrol planes, tanks, sub–
marines and ships in the coming
year.
"This is a very significant
political decision," said one gov–
ernment source.
" It
reftects the
change in public opinion [about
defense issues] and the new cir–
cumstances surrounding Japan,
including the Soviet military
buildup in this area."
This increase still does not
breach the self- imposed ceiling of
less than 1 percent of J apan's
GNP. But reliable sources indi–
cate that the J apanese govern–
ment is giving serious thought to
a substantial increase in the mili–
tary budget in coming years–
possibly to 3 or 4 percent of the
GNP.
Buslnessmen Supportive
J apanese business leaders are
among the most ardent support–
ers of an improved Japanese
defense capability. A pro-defense
campaign by the Japanese busi–
ness community is already in evi–
dence.
A stepped-up defense program
would greatly st imulate J apan' s
ai rcraft, transport an d other
heavy industries. Considerable
amounts of government funds
would undoubtedly be poured
into military research and devel–
opment projects.
Last year, Shigeo Nagano,
president of the Japan Chamber
of Commerce and Industry,
called for a wide-ranging debate
on defense- including a review of
30
J apan's arms export controls.
Hosai Hyuga, president of the
Kansai (western Japan) Econom–
ic Federation, and chairman of
Sumimoto Metals Company, pro–
posed an increase in J apan 's
defense spendi ng to 1.9 percent
of the GNP- also intended to
touch off a hot debate on the
defense issue.
Observers believe that, given
time, Japan's weapons makers
might well succeed in surpassi ng
the We st in developmental
research and technological expe–
rience- just as Japanese industry
has done in television, camera and
automobile production.
"If
we have sufficient money
and time," says an official of the
big Mitsubishi group, "it will be
possible to manufacture the next–
generation jet fighter domestical–
ly." Mitsubishi Heavy Industries'
ai rcraft division was the manufac–
turer of the renowned Zero
fighters of World War
IJ.
Draft, A-8omb?
In the course of his previously
mentioned comments, H osai
Hyuga also dared suggest insti–
tuting sorne form of conscription.
The idea of a general draft system
has raised a storm of protest
among die-hard pacifists. Sorne
experts asser t a draft would be a
clear violation of Japan's no-war
constitution, and could only be
instituted fo llowing a constitu–
tional revision.
Already the right wing of the
ruling conservative Liberal Dem–
ocratic Party ( LDP) has begun to
push for just such a revision.
There is little doubt that the con–
stitution would have to be
amended if J apan is ever to play a
meaningful role in maintaining
the security of Asia.
Even the once-taboo question
of nuclear armaments is now
being discussed in sorne circles.
Since the end of World War
11
J apan has maintained three non–
nuclear principies: of not possess–
ing, manufacturing or permitting
the entry into J apan of nuclear
weapons. The memories of Hiro–
shima and Nagasaki are still alive.
But there has recently been a
marked increase in public opinion
in favor of J apan's abandoning
these principies in the interests of
national security.
Japan certainly has the tech–
nology to produce its own nuclear
bomb. With its vast financia! and
technological capacities, J apan
could detonate a nuclear device
within two to six months of a
decision to do so.
Nelghbors Wary
The Soviet Union has been quick
to Jabel J apan's announced
increase in military spending as
"saber-rattli ng," charging that
Japan seeks to become a big rhili–
tary power in the region.
Of greater concern to Japanese
government officials, however, is
how to reassure their friendly
neighbors that any Japanese mili–
tary buildüp would remain purely
defensive and in the name of
peace. J apan must be careful not
to revive dormant memories of
World War
11.
A stepped-up mil–
itary program might be viewed by
past victims of Japanese aggres–
sion as the beginning of a return
to an earlier militarism, causing
tensions to rise throughout Asia.
Late last year, Japanese Prime
Minister Zenko Suzuki went out
of his way to stress that Japan's
ultimate goal is only to provide
itself with enough military mus–
ele to cope with small-scale, lim–
ited aggression.
" J apan," he said, "will build
up its defense but not to the point
that its mi li tary capability would
threaten its neighbors.
It
will n9t
become either a lion or a tiger in
defense but rather a porcupine, to
defend ourselves should we be
invaded."
Soul-searchlng Ahead
In a country that still remembers
the last g rim days of World War
II , moves toward rearmament will
continue to draw heavy fire. But
t he momentum appears to be
clearly in favor of rearming.
Japan has sorne serious soul–
searching to do in coming
months. Changes in the J apanese
attitude will become increasingly
apparent as thei r reassessment
focuses in on present-day political
and mili tary realities.
o
The
PLAIN TRUTH