Скачать или смотреть Japan takes historic step from post-war pacifism: Analysis

Japan took a historic step away from its post-war pacifism on Tuesday by ending a ban that has kept the military from fighting abroad since 1945,.. a victory for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe but a move that has riled South Korea and China and is worrying many Japanese voters.

The change, the most dramatic shift in policy since Japan set up its post-war armed forces 60 years ago, will widen Japan's military options by ending the ban on exercising "collective self-defense," or aiding a friendly country under attack.

Let's take an in-depth look - Dr. Shin Chang-hoon joins us live in the studio.
Dr. Shin is a research fellow and director of the Center for Global Governance at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.
Dr. Shin, welcome to the program.



So, we have a rough understanding of this re-interpretation of the pacifist constitution by Japan... that now allows Tokyo to basically go to war.
Does that mean Japan's armed forces can now enter the Korean peninsula if it believes its ally - possibly the U.S. here - is under attack?

Abe's cabinet adopted a resolution outlining the shift, which also relaxes limits on activities in UN-led peace-keeping operations and "grey zone" incidents short of full-scale war.
Could you elaborate on this?

Well, it sure doesn't look like the Japanese public is in favor of Tokyo's decision to exercise "collective self-defense."
According to a survey by one of Japan's leading newspapers, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, on June 30th... 54-percent of the Japanese people were against this move while just 29-percent were supportive.
Why is the Abe administration pushing ahead with this when the public is so against it?

So, how does Tokyo's latest shift in military policy change the military and political/diplomatic dynamism in Northeast Asia - relations between Japan, China, South and North Korea, and the U.S.? And, how should the South Korean government react to Tokyo's shift in policy?

Dr. Shin Chang-hoon, researcher and director of the Center for Global Governance at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies... thanks so much for speaking with us this evening.