Japan’s Right to Collective Self-Defense activated by Abe Regime and Northeastern Asia

Abstract

apan’s Abe Shinjo government succeeded to institutionalize the Right to Collective Self-defense in 2015. This article aims to clarify the characteristics and contents of ‘11 new security laws’ related to the right. Japanese ruling party LDP led by Abe prime minister have tried to activate a series of new security policy since 2012. Abe and LDP decided to change the traditional interpretation about the Right to Collective Self-Defense. It was a kind of historical decision concerned with the re-interpretation of the Pacifist Constitution in postwar Japan. This research will analyze three dimensions of political process, policy contents and responses of three major countries contained within the institution of the laws. Abe Japan seems to walk the path of middle power nation strategy. Abe Japan will try to intensify his own political power in the international negotiations based on ‘an active peaceful efforts’. The responses of the major G2 power around Northeastern Asia, USA and China are different. South Korea is also very confusing. It is absolutely necessary for the two countries to be cooperative in order to overcome the severe threats of North Korea’s nuclear crisis. But, many Koreans doubts about the honesty of Abe’s speech, political gestures and ideology.