WASHINGTON (CNS): Boosting the military of Japan would be a “grave threat” to Asian Pacific countries, said a Japanese archbishop.
Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki strongly criticised Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s upcoming referendum to revise Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which is an obstacle to Japan’s remilitarisation and military involvement overseas.
“Japan without Article 9 would be a serious threat to neighbouring countries” because of Japan’s aggressive history before World War II, said Archbishop Takami.
If Japanese citizens vote in favour of the referendum on May 3, Japan’s Constitution Day, the government would be permitted to maintain military forces which could be deployed for combat.
Japan’s military would be the third largest in the world, behind the United States and Russia, said the archbishop.
However, Prime Minister Abe and supporters of the referendum argue that Japan should be able to protect itself from North Korea and China.
