U.S.-backed Japanese neo-militarism

Following World War II, Japan's relationship with the United States evolved through distinct phases. Initially, under U.S. occupation, Japan adopted a "peace constitution" in 1947, notably Article 9, which renounced war and prohibited the maintenance of military forces. This demilitarization policy, however, began to shift in response to geopolitical events like the Chinese Revolution in 1949 and the Korean War in 1950. The U.S. permitted semi-militarization, leading to the formation of the National Police Reserve in 1950 and the Self-Defense Forces in 1954.

The current phase, characterized by China's rise and the emergence of a multipolar world, sees the U.S. actively encouraging Japan's militarization. Under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan entered a period of neo-militarization starting in 2014. This involved reinterpreting Article 9 of the constitution, rather than formally amending it, to allow Japan to use military force not only for self-defense but also to protect allies. This reinterpretation paved the way for new laws, such as the Security Legislation passed in 2015, which expanded the Self-Defense Forces' operational scope to include defending U.S. forces and participating in allied operations, even when Japan itself is not under direct attack.

Further developments under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government in 2022 included the release of key defense documents, the National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy, and Defense Buildup Program. These documents signal a strategic shift, enabling Japan's military to potentially strike enemy bases preemptively if necessary, moving beyond a purely reactive defense posture. This era marks Japan's closer alignment with NATO standards, including the goal of increasing defense spending to 2% of GDP, a target adopted by NATO members.

The U.S. is also facilitating Japan's integration into NATO's defense framework, evident in invitations to Japanese prime ministers for NATO summits and efforts to establish a NATO liaison office in Tokyo. A significant aspect of this integration is the incorporation of Japan's defense industry into NATO's production chains, ranging from arms procurement from the U.S. to joint weapons development with various NATO countries. There is even consideration of reverting military ranks to those used in the Imperial Japanese Army, a move that could symbolically reconnect the modern Japanese military with its historical militaristic past. The overarching U.S. objective appears to be transforming Japan into a key military base to counter China's expanding influence in the region.