Ironic, but necessary

Time heals all wounds. At least this is proven true with countries like the Philippines and Japan. I think. I hope. In a recent interview with the Financial Times. Foreign Affairs Sec. Albert Del Rosario stated that it favors Japan dropping its pacifist constitution imposed by the United States after the end of World War II where Japan was defeated, and become a fully fledged military power in the likes of the US, UK, France and Russia. This is to counter, or to strike a balance of power in the region with China asserting itself in more arrogant ways than one over unresolved disputed territories. This is in light of Japan’s coming elections where the opposition frontrunner vowed to amend or change their constitution. With that out of the way, Japan can once again re-arm itself not just in a defensive manner, but as a significant force.

This would be removing restrictions to acquire or develop certain weapons, offensive weapons. While that may raise eyebrows from those who felt the imperialist moves of wartime Japan during the Second World War, some may even be turning in their graves or even wanting to rise up from the dead, it is seen as necessary to keep China in constant check, as they seem to be at the very edge of what Japan was trying to achieve in the Forties! A strong Japan would mean that a strong military presence would constantly patrol the seas as well, aside from that of China’s. There already have been encounters in the past between China, Vietnam and Japan over disputed islands, not to mention our own. A strong Japan would mean that the “bully” would be kept in check, since it seems to trample its less powerful claimants. And it is proven that China does not want a confrontation with Japan. They put out a map on their passport and chose to claim every bit of land on the ocean, even that in the northern part of India, while avoiding including its claim on islands in dispute with Japan! The bully does not want to be bullied.

But of course, allowing Japan to strengthen once more comes with a caveat. Sometimes, when you are just too powerful, you start to think of things. Like conquest, domination, those things. Things that started the whole mess in 1939 to 1945. I know that it is a totally different Japan today, not to mention the world. But one need only look at what China is doing, now that it is both an economic and military superpower. They certainly were not that way in the Seventies, when anything “Made in China’ was shunned by the world!

In as much as every peaceful means must be exhausted in resolving the territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea, there really should be another strong military force in the region aside form that of the US, of which we are also allied to. And the answer is Japan. The irony is there, but so is the necessity.