CWA # 2079
TWTW Note
Japan’s New Defence Posture:
From Post-War Pacifism to Strategic Recalibration and Autonomy
Increasing tensions with China, North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, and Russia have increased Japan’s threat perceptions. Besides, there is a broad perception shift in Japan of US security guarantees.
|
Aishal Hab Yousuf
26 April 2026
|
The World This Week #351-352, Vol 8, Nos 13-14, 26 April 2026
What happened?
On 21 April, Japan made significant changes to its defence export rules in decades, doing away with restrictions on overseas arms sales and opening the way for the export of warships, missiles, and other weapons. These measures include acquiring counter-strike capabilities and increasing military spending. Experts, civil society, and the public have interpreted these actions as ‘normalization’ towards Japan’s military role.
On 19 April, over 30,000 protesters composed of students, civil society groups, and organizations advocating for a pacifist society demonstrated outside the national Diet. They anticipate these changes may increase the potential of entanglement in foreign conflicts and undermine the historical culture of pacifism in Japanese society.
What is the background?
1. A brief background on Article 9 of Japan’s constitution and the current debate on revision of Japan’s post-World War-II “peace constitution”
Article 9 of Japan’s constitution is one of its most defining features, an open declaration that Japan renounces war and will not maintain land, sea and air forces. Drafted under US occupation post World War II, these provisions reflect a two-fold agenda - accommodating the trauma of militarization during wartime and the US strategic interests during the early stages of the Cold War. Japan’s post-war peace constitution, in particular Article 9, was accepted not only as a legal framework but as a defining feature of a national identity, symbolizing a decisive break from militarism and as a wholehearted commitment to pacifism.
2. Gradual expansion of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces
Since 1954, Japan has gradually developed the Self Defence Forces by interpreting Article 9 as being permissible towards defensive capabilities. In 2015, in a major shift, Japan legislated to engage in limited yet collective self-defence, and even enabled its forces to assist its allies under certain conditions. Shinzo Abe (2012-2020) pioneered a more proactive security policy, exemplified through Japan’s participation in security frameworks, including the QUAD. The new PM Sanae Takaichi appears to adopt a similar approach; she said: “Countries around the world are urgently preparing for new forms of warfare; no one will help a country that lacks the resolve to defend itself.”
3. Regional security pressures and Japan’s evolving threat perceptions
Increasing tensions with China, North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, along with increased aggression of the Russian military, have increased Japan’s threat perceptions. The recent China-Japan tensions, including economic retaliation and security disputes, have heightened these concerns. Besides, there is a broad perception in Japan of US security guarantees; today, Japanese policymakers are looking towards greater strategic autonomy.
What does it mean?
First, it is a transformational shift in Japan’s national identity. For decades, Japan’s image has been defined by pacifism. Even a symbolic reassessment of the ninth article’s principles would mean a departure from this identity towards a more Westphalian and/or Realist understanding of state sovereignty and military.
Second, a constitutionally recognised military would enable Japan to participate more intensively in collective defensive arrangements. The debate is divided; supporters argue that this would increase deterrence and contribute to regional stability vis-à-vis the two nuclear powers, China and North Korea. The critics recollect Japanese imperialism and wartime aggression.
Third, Japan’s new defence posture reflects a broader shift in alliance dynamics. An assertive Japan can be complementary to Washington’s agenda. The US has long been encouraging Japan to assume greater defence responsibilities.
Fourth, the change may have significant implications for Japanese domestic politics. To implement this change as per Article 96, a two-thirds majority in both houses of the parliament, and public approval through a national referendum are required. A referendum makes it a de facto test of political legitimacy, likely to be highly contested.
To conclude, the debate highlights a reevaluation of the norms of post-Second World War Japan in light of contemporary challenges. Japan’s case is particularly symbolic because its constitution has long been seen as an ideal model of institutionalized pacifism.
REFERENCES
“Japan Reaffirms No-Nukes Pledge after Senior Official Suggests Acquiring Weapons,” Reuters, 19 December 2025, https://www.reuters.com/world/china/japan-reaffirms-no-nukes-pledge-after-senior-official-suggests-acquiring-weapons-2025-12-19/.
“Japan Enacts Bills Easing Pacifist Constitution’s Limits on Military,” Reuters, 19 September 2015, https://www.reuters.com/article/world/japan-enacts-bills-easing-pacifist-constitutions-limits-on-military-idUSKCN0RI030/.
“Japan Debates Changes to Pacifist Constitution amid Protests,” The Washington Post, 16 April 2026, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/04/16/japan-pacifist-constitution-change-protests/.
“Japanese Youth Protest against Changes to Pacifist Constitution,” The Guardian, 22 April 2026, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/22/japan-youth-pacifist-constitution-trump-iran.
“Japan’s Military Buildup Signals a Shift from Pacifism,” The New York Times, 16 December 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/16/world/asia/japan-military-buildup-pacifism.html.
“Why Japan Is Changing Its Pacifist Defence Policy,” BBC News, 18 December 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67730640.
“Japan Approves Major Defence Overhaul in Historic Shift,” Al Jazeera, 17 December 2022, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/12/17/japan-approves-major-defence-overhaul-in-historic-shift.
“Debate Intensifies over Constitutional Revision and Article 9,” NHK World Japan, 2026, https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/.
“Japan’s Constitutional Revision Raises Regional Concerns,” Global Times, 2025, https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/2025/.
“Japan’s Evolving Security Policy under Shinzo Abe and Beyond,” Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, 2025, https://journals.sagepub.com/home/jas.
“‘Stop Sucking Up to America’: Japan’s Youth Rises Up to Protect Pacifist Constitution,” The Guardian, 22 April 2026, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/22/japan-youth-pacifist-constitution-trump-iran.
“Japan Is a Pacifist Nation. A Hint of Change Is Drawing Rare Protests,” The Washington Post, 16 April 2026, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/04/16/japan-pacifist-constitution-change-protests/.
About the author
Aishal Hab Yousuf, Postgraduate student, Department of International Studies,
Stella Maris College, Chennai. She is currently an intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.
