Security treaty 50 years old
(From The Japan Times June 24 issue)

日米安保改訂50年

Fifty years have passed since the Japan-U.S. security treaty went into force June 23, 1960. Under this revised treaty, Japan provides military bases to the United States while the latter is to play an offensive role to defend Japan. Tokyo pursues a defense-only posture as Article 9 of the Constitution prohibits possession and use of armed forces as a means of settling international disputes.

While the treaty has spared Japan heavy military spending and helped it become an economic power, the military bases in the country have enabled the United States to carry out military operations in other parts of the world to protect its national interests.

Many Japanese opposed the treaty, fearing it would make Japan a target of a military attack. The fact that Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, who pushed revision of the treaty, served as commerce and industry minister in the wartime Cabinet of Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, and became a Class-A war crime suspect also added fuel to the opposition.

Before and after the Liberal Democratic Party railroaded a bill for approving the treaty through the Lower House on May 20, 1960, a series of demonstrations was held around the Diet Building. In a June 15 clash between student protesters and police, Ms. Michiko Kanba, a University of Tokyo student, died.

The treaty was originally aimed at the Soviet Union. But Japan's security environment and the role of the treaty have changed. Prime Minister Naoto Kan in his general policy speech before the Diet said the treaty is now an international common asset that underpins not only Japan's defense but also the stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.

Recent security concerns are North Korea's adventurism and China's military buildup. Japan, the United States and South Korea need close, coolheaded cooperation to increase stability in this region. Japan and the United States also must make serious efforts to reduce the burden on Okinawa Prefecture, where U.S. bases are concentrated. Without Okinawans' understanding, the treaty will not properly function. Tokyo and Washington must give Japanese enough information about the security setup if they are to win support.

日米安保条約が現行条約に改定されてから50年。日本に米軍を配備する代わりに米国は日本の防衛義務を負うこの条約の下、日本政府は憲法9条に従い専守防衛を追及している。

条約のお陰で日本は軽武装のまま経済発展の道を歩んだが、米軍が米国の利益のために日本の基地を利用して他国に対して軍事活動ができるような仕組みになっている。

菅首相は条約を「日本の防衛のみならずアジア太平洋の安定と繁栄を支える国際的共有財産」と位置づけた。北朝鮮の挑発的活動や中国の軍備増強に対し、日米韓が冷静かつ緊密に連携することが必要だ。日米は沖縄の基地負担軽減に努め、安保政策について情報公開し国民の支持を求めるべきだ。