hankyoreh

Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has suffered a major defeat in the upper house election held July 29. Being the first time the opposition has taken over the upper house of the Diet since the (LDP) was formed in 1955, it is only natural the Japanese media is calling the results a non-confidence vote on the government of Shinzo Abe. However, the LDP has still decided to keep Abe as prime minister. Abe himself says his basic policies are understood by the majority of the people and that he is not going to step down. What he said reflects his thinking that the vote was against his approach to the pension issue and a rebuke of his cabinet for corruption, rather than an expression of opposition to his rebuilding of postwar Japanese conservatism.

The direct reasons for the LDP's defeat are indeed the pension issue, corruption on the part of members of his cabinet, and socioeconomic disparity in Japanese society. But it goes too far to say that most Japanese agree with the direction in which he is taking the country. In last year's general elections, the LDP called for the "end of the postwar regime" and the creation of a "beautiful country," and Abe won when the results were in. This time around, he desperately appealed to voters with calls for the need for a national referendum to amend the Constitution, and yet he failed to win support. This confirms that at the very least, constitutional revision is not an urgent issue with the Japanese people.

In the meantime we again have to wonder about Abe's ideas for a new Japan. He had the Basic Education Law amended so that Japan's schools would promote patriotism, and he had the Self Defence Forces Agency promoted to a ministry. He wants to amend Article 9 of Japan's constitution so Japan will be able to exercise the right to collective self-defense and ultimately the use of war and military force. He continues to cause worry about a resurgence of militarism, and his idea of a new Japan is one that refuses to recognize the nation's past wrongs. For example, early this year he went so far as to make comments that seemed to negate the Kono Statement, which was an apology relating to the comfort women issue. He also used a wide-ranging lobbying campaign to try to stop a resolution on the same issue, passed by the United States House of Representatives today. Instead of cooperating for the resolution of the Korean peninsular nuclear crisis at the six-party talks, which themselves were resumed after much difficulty, Abe's Japan has prevented progress at the talks by insisting that the Japanese abductee issue be one of the conditions.

No such Japan will be recognized as a trustworthy neighbor in the international community and especially in Northeast Asia. Abe needs to stop twisting the election results to fit his own interpretations. He needs to reconsider whether amending Japan's "Peace Constitution" is appropriate in reestablishing Japan as a country that is respected in East Asia and the world.



Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]