Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad warns against revising Japan’s pacifist Constitution

[powastick]

Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad warns against revising Japan’s pacifist Constitution

NEW YORK – Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Friday that Japan’s pacifist Constitution stands out in the world for embodying peace and should be emulated, not revised.

“Japan is the only country that does not want to be involved in wars, aggressive wars,” he said at a news conference after delivering a speech at the U.N. General Assembly.

“If Japan revises its Constitution and allows itself to go to war then I think we are making a very regressive step,” he said. “Instead of promoting peace, Japan will join all the other countries in the world about using war to settle problems.”

Mahathir, who returned to power in May after stepping down from the post in 2003 following a 22-year rule, said he agrees with the ideal of rejecting wars and is considering following the Japan model for his own country.

“We are thinking about following Japan’s current Constitution which does not allow Japan to go to war — we don’t want to go to war either,” he said.

Malaysia has 100,000 troops in its navy, army and air force, whose supreme commander is its king. Revisions to its constitution require a minimum two-thirds approval in both houses of Parliament.

Pacifism has been enshrined in Japan’s Constitution through Article 9. It calls for the complete renunciation of war, but debates about formalizing the legal status of the Self-Defense Forces have been ongoing for the past several years with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe being a part of the push for a change.

Mahathir, in his remarks delivered at the U.N. General Assembly, stressed how the world has changed for the worst since he last took the stage in the hall in 2003 as part of the yearly debate.

“Today the world is in a state of turmoil economically, socially and politically,” he said, identifying worrying new trends regarding trade where “two of the most powerful economies” — the United States and China — are making “the rest of the world feel the pain.”

In the political arena, he pointed to global problems related to the huge influx of migrants around the world, wars that have been spurred on by terrorism, the worsening plight of the Palestinians and the alarming situation in Myanmar where he said Muslim refugees have been forced to flee.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2...ng-japans-pacifist-constitution/#.W6-gwXszbIV

 

[313ghazi]

Smart move by Malaysia. Try and convince the Japanese to bury their heads in the sand, and in 50 years time, there won't be many Japanese left anyway. They'll be reliant on immigrants.

 

[Reashot Xigwin]

Sadly with the US becoming more isolationist Japan needs to be able to pick up the responsibility of maintaining the peace in the pacific & beyond.

 

[TaiShang]

“If Japan revises its Constitution and allows itself to go to war then I think we are making a very regressive step,” he said. “Instead of promoting peace, Japan will join all the other countries in the world about using war to settle problems.”

I think what Dr. Mahathir is hinting here is not the amendment of the constitution per se, but, its amendment under the US auspices, so that Japanese Army would be an extension of the US rapist mercenary army, which would be a terrible regress in the long peace in East Asia.

 

[powastick]

I think what Dr. Mahathir is hinting here is not the amendment of the constitution per se, but, its amendment under the US auspices, so that Japanese Army would be an extension of the US rapist mercenary army, which would be a terrible regress in the long peace in East Asia.

The amendment would meant that Japan will join US in massacring the muslims in the middle east. Mahathir have great respect for Japan but they are now following the path of US.

 

[TaiShang]

The amendment would meant that Japan will join US in massacring the muslims in the middle east. Mahathir have great respect for Japan but they are now following the path of US.

Mahathir should also remember that his East Asia Economic Caucus proposal was killed by the US by means of Japan.

US uses Japan as a fifth column to sabotage East Asia region making process.

I do hope that under Mahathir, the ASEAN+3 will further be institutionalized into a East Asian economic union.

 

[Suika]

I think what Dr. Mahathir is hinting here is not the amendment of the constitution per se, but, its amendment under the US auspices, so that Japanese Army would be an extension of the US rapist mercenary army, which would be a terrible regress in the long peace in East Asia.

The terrible regress was China's expansion in the South China Sea and China's intrusions into Japanese territorial waters. They started encroaching and intruding into territorial waters in 2008 and again in 2010 and in 2011. More so in 2012, thus Japan nationalized the Senkaku islands from previous Japanese civilian ownership because obviously by this point, China wasn't going to respect keeping the Senkaku islands as off hands. As a result, China blamed the Japanese government, jacked up the number of water territorial intrusions and had riots against Japanese stores in China. That was 3 years before the new Japanese defense laws were passed.

China is a giant country. They should have respected Japan's water territory. They don't need it as they are already the biggest by far in the region. They did not respect the territorial waters and still do not. What signal does that send?

 

[Corona]

Can't wait to see my old friends Soryu, Akagi, Katsuragi and Kaga again.

 

[haidian]

The terrible regress was China's expansion in the South China Sea and China's intrusions into Japanese territorial waters. They started encroaching and intruding into territorial waters in 2008 and again in 2010 and in 2011. More so in 2012, thus Japan nationalized the Senkaku islands from previous Japanese civilian ownership because obviously by this point, China wasn't going to respect keeping the Senkaku islands as off hands. As a result, China blamed the Japanese government, jacked up the number of water territorial intrusions and had riots against Japanese stores in China. That was 3 years before the new Japanese defense laws were passed.

China is a giant country. They should have respected Japan's water territory. They don't need it as they are already the biggest by far in the region. They did not respect the territorial waters and still do not. What signal does that send?

Isn't Japan having territorial disputes with every country in its neighorhood?

 

[Suika]

Can't wait to see my old friends Soryu, Akagi, Katsuragi and Kaga again.

The names of two at least are back. JS Kaga being a helicopter destroyer. JS Soryu being a submarine.

Isn't Japan having territorial disputes with every country in its neighorhood?

The first one with Russia since 1945 (island grab after Japan's official surrender). The second with ROK since 1952 (in response to San Francisco treaty). China's with the Snekaku islands, 1970. Why (to be a bully)

 

[TaiShang]

Isn't Japan having territorial disputes with every country in its neighorhood?

Japan has been the traditional spearhead of the US to get involved in the East Asian regionalism and sabotage it from inside.

The only honorable moment for Japan was its proposal if an AMF (post-1997), but then, a little US pressure, Japan's soft plastic backbone was bent and they deserted the idea.

Japan shares the greater responsibility for a lack of meaningful regionalization in East Asia.

China cannot be blamed for less action in the 1990s because it was Japan that was supposed to be the leading geese. It was Japan's responsibility.

Now, the responsibility is being placed on China, and China needs to lead, first, NEA, and then EA community build-up. In this respect, President Xi's NEA Economic Circle proposal is meaningful.

Interestingly, it was only Mr. Abe who, during the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia, mentioned the US in his speech while the rest of the leaders (4 NEA leaders) never mentioned the US.

 

[powastick]

Mahathir should also remember that his East Asia Economic Caucus proposal was killed by the US by means of Japan.

US uses Japan as a fifth column to sabotage East Asia region making process.

I do hope that under Mahathir, the ASEAN+3 will further be institutionalized into a East Asian economic union.

Back in 1997 Mahathir wanted Japan to be the lead in ASEAN+3. But I think he should forget it, Japan won't accept it without US in it.

 

[TaiShang]

Back in 1997 Mahathir wanted Japan to be the lead in ASEAN+3. But I think he should forget it, Japan won't accept it without US in it.

Yes, at that time there was a huge interest in SEA in a Japan-led regionalism. Yet, Japan has never been a fully sovereign nation, hence, it could not represent solely regional interests, but act only as a pawn for the greater interests of the US militarism in East Asia.

Yet, now, with Japan weakened, APEC is virtually dead, TPP is buried, and Asia figuring out the barely-avoided dangers of the US military Rebalance, there is a greater chance for a new wave of regionalism. In this, China and Malaysia can work together. I believe, Malaysia already has a great experience in this regard and ASEAN is the most meaningful place to discuss such an idea.

 

[Suika]

Japan has been the traditional spearhead of the US to get involved in the East Asian regionalism and sabotage it from inside.

The only honorable moment for Japan was its proposal if an AMF (post-1997), but then, a little US pressure, Japan's soft plastic backbone was bent and they deserted the idea.

Japan shares the greater responsibility for a lack of meaningful regionalization in East Asia.

China cannot be blamed for less action in the 1990s because it was Japan that was supposed to be the leading geese. It was Japan's responsibility.

Now, the responsibility is being placed on China, and China needs to lead, first, NEA, and then EA community build-up. In this respect, President Xi's NEA Economic Circle proposal is meaningful.

Interestingly, it was only Mr. Abe who, during the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia, mentioned the US in his speech while the rest of the leaders (4 NEA leaders) never mentioned the US.

Why does it go as far as Japan's responsibility? How is a country imposed by the peace constitution supposed to be able to do anything without a military option to back up its diplomatic and economic front. Security would always be dependent on whoever holds the military capability. But Japanese military capabilities has always been demonized by China, the Koreas, and so on. A leading nation needs military power too and for that military power to be accepted by the surrounding countries.

So then if China wants to be the regional leading power, why does it use its military to show off and bully neighboring countries? What was the purpose of that huge 2015 military parade? Rubbing into Japan's face about victory against fascists and Japanese aggression and to have such a parade while in the middle of doing the land reclamation in the South China Sea and intruding in Japanese territorial waters. Naturally neighboring countries were also not liking such a display of military power. So these neighboring countries that are now developing military ties with Japan and accepting Japan's military power. All countries in the region of course want good trade and business with China but their recently developed defense ties indicates a nervousness about letting China become a sole ruling power in Asia.

You're post sounds like because Japan failed with the AMF in 1997 justifies why China now intrudes into Japanese territory which is part of China taking leadership in Asia? That is some wired logic thinking.

It also should not be forgotten that Japan's economic growth was thanks in large part to American consumers. Japanese companies had the economic freedom to compete so well as to out beat a number of American companies on their own turf. It is only natural that there would be some American push back to Japanese economic success in the US market. The same could be said about China's growth. So I don't really understand the demonization of the US by Chinese posters.

So Japan was not able to get the AMF through but of course again Japan pursues an economic policy that is counter to the current US administration, which is TPP, although the US might join it later. We'll see.

Yes, at that time there was a huge interest in SEA in a Japan-led regionalism. Yet, Japan has never been a fully sovereign nation, hence, it could not represent solely regional interests, but act only as a pawn for the greater interests of the US militarism in East Asia.

Yet, now, with Japan weakened, APEC is virtually dead, TPP is buried, and Asia figuring out the barely-avoided dangers of the US military Rebalance, there is a greater chance for a new wave of regionalism. In this, China and Malaysia can work together. I believe, Malaysia already has a great experience in this regard and ASEAN is the most meaningful place to discuss such an idea.

Mahathir's message about the peace constitution sounds nice and has appeal. But its a political statement. In reality, there is no way for a country to lead without a capable military.

Furthermore, it should be considered as to what the change actually is. The suggested change by Abe is to clearly state the existence of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. Under the constitutions current form, even having a defense force can be viewed as illegal. The funny thing about Mahathir advocating Japan's constitution is that it was American imposed to de-fang Japan. So we have here the usual Pro-China posters whom are always very critical about the US and even criticize Japan for being a "lap dog" of the US now supporting the constitution that the US imposed on Japan. Wild

So why did Mahathir say it? I think he is making statements that Japan wants to hear and what China wants to hear on a pragmatic basis. When he won the election back in May, he said there are many things that Malaysia can learn from Japan while at the same time putting a review on many China related infrastructure projects. Those projects got cancelled but then he says he will put the TPP under review too. Than in late August while in Thailand, he gives TPP the green light. But now recently he states he is reconsidering TPP again. Basically what all these statements come down to is back and forth between "I prefer Japan" and "I prefer China" probably for the pragmatic agenda of appealing to them at certain moments. But of course Powastick talks about only the "I prefer China" things. Ultimately Malaysia is pursuing a non-alignment policy trying to maximize benefits from China and Japan and playing those two against each other. Similar game that Thailand is doing.

 

[Mista]

So I don't really understand the demonization of the US by Chinese posters.

Me too. The US and China are competitors but not enemies. People from both sides have real tangible benefits to their standard of living from each others' growth. China has benefited trillions of trade surplus from US consumers over many years, to the point where these nationalistic posters have this entitlement complex that it's only natural for China to deserve a surplus.