国際教養AO入試 supplement, security-related laws, Japanese militarization

Read the following article and answer the following question.

Komura: Security bills to deter ‘real threat’ The Japan Times   September 12, 2015
http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002405989

Question 1: Summarize the explanation of Mr. Komura

                                                                                                  

                                                                                                  

                                                                                                  

                                                                                                  

                                                                                                  

                                                                                                   

                                                                                                  

                                                                                                  

                                                                                                   

Question 2: Do you agree or disagree with Mr. Komura’s opinion on the Japanese security policy?

                                                                                                   

                                                                                                  

                                                                                                  

                                                                                                   

                                                                                                  

                                                                                                   

                                                                                                  

                                                                                                  

                                                                                                   

Answer Keys

Question 1: The military threat of other countries, especially those of North Korea and China, combined with the US request of the Japanese involvement in the counterattack operations against potential enemies, necessitates Japan to make the Self Defense Force ready for such operations. This will work as a strong deterrent. The introduction of a conscription system is unthinkable in terms of both military affair and politics. Security bills do not violate the Constitution because the Supreme Court decision states that defensive measures can be taken to ensure the survival of the country and this allows us to have the right of collective self-defense in today’s circumstance. Full renunciation of war is unrealistic and Article 9 needs an amendment.

Question 2

Sample 1: Although I do not think militarization of neighboring countries is a threat, I partly agree with Mr. Komura. China wants to shop in Japan and will not bother to invade it; with many economic and cultural ties between the two, its invasion of Japan is unlikely. Even if the US and Chinese relationship goes wrong, Chinese military spending is less than one-third of that of the US. North Korea’s rocket tests are a business demonstration to sell their weapons. However, Japan has already been the target of terrorists who have recognized Japan as part of the “Crusaders” lead by the US and other powers. To protect the expatriate employees and their families, we need the right of collective self-defense.

Sample 2: I disagree with Mr. Komura because passing the security bills will not help protect Japanese citizens but will help the Japanese government overtly join in US violations of sovereignty. The US, with the military spending as much as the military expenses all the other countries combined and troops deployed in over 150 countries, has not been able to protect its citizens or deter terrorists. It could not prevent 9.11 from happening and, by invading Iraq for a false reason and leaving it helpless, it allowed so-called IS to expand. Military power does not contribute to the protection of its citizens other than the cases of disaster, which the US also missed. Moreover, enabling the SDF to use force on other soils will provide the market for the military-industrial complex, and Japan will soon be entangled with the US practice of diplomacy by force. We should not give our government an excuse to join the camouflaged imperialistic operations. What really protects citizens is the good reputation of their country and this good image has its foundation in our pacifist constitution.