(MAY 12-18)

Japan’s recent move towards exercising the right to collective self defense seems to have gained momentum as the Abe Administration is expected to announce its stance on the reinterpretation of the pacifist Constitution. Japanese Prime minister Shinzo Abe is to clarify his government’s recent move towards the limited exercise of the right to collective self defence once his security advisory panel submits a report in favour of exercising such right in this month itself. However, Japan’s push for the right to collective self defense has raised concerns among the neighbouring states, especially China and South Korea. The two countries, who were victimized by Japan’s past militarism, seem to claim that in the pretext of exercising collective self defence, Japan is trying to use force to support its allies without acknowledging its wartime atrocities on its neighbouring states during the prewar era. 1

• 1. “Tokyo nears goal of collective self defense”, The Korea Herald, May 15, 2014, at http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140512001464