Taro Yamamoto:  This is Taro Yamamoto representing The People’s Life Party & Taro Yamamoto and Friends.

I would like to ask the obvious, the topic we all know in Nagatacho but we never discuss.  Please answer in a simple and clear manner.  Thank you.

First, Defense Minister Nakatani please.

Minister Nakatani, in answering committee member Mizuho Fukushima’s question during the committee session on July 31st–why provision of ammunitions, which was prohibited under the Act on Perilous Situations in Areas Surrounding Japan,  is possible now–you have answered that there had been no need on the part of the US military to require provision of ammunitions, refueling aircrafts during start-up preparation for combat maneuvers and maintenance, therefore those were excluded, however, after reevaluating the Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation, the U.S. has expressed its expectation for Japan’s broader logistical support.

Which means, Minister Nakatani, as a legislative fact for the enactment of the national security bills, there have been needs for the US military, a request from it, is that right?

Defense Minister (Gen Nakatani):  When the current regulation was enacted, there were no such needs from the US, therefore they were excluded.  Which, I have stated during the Diet session.

However, during subsequent discussion on the Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation, the US has expressed an expectation for Japan to pursue a broader logistical support including the aforementioned matters. In addition, as I have stated already, last year, as the Japanese Self-Depence Force participating in the UN Peace Keeping operation in Southern Sudan has provided ammunitions to a South Korean troops after a request from the UN, there are unexpected circumstance in which provisions of ammunitions can be expected, moreover, circumstances have shifted in various ways, so now, we have recognized those and we consider that it is necessary to lay down a legal measure for them.

Taro Yamamoto:  Minister Nakatani, could you tell us, in order to make those matters such as the provision of ammunitions, which were impossible under the Act on Perilous Situations in Areas Surrounding Japan, possible under the national security bills, what sort of needs were expressed in what form and when by the US military?

Defense Minister (Gen Nakatani):  The Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation has progressed, and its guideline was reevaluated while the capability of the Self-Defense Force has improved — these prompted the US request for the broader logistical support, therefore, basically, the needs came out during the discussion between Japan and the US.

Taro Yamamoto:  That really did not answer what I have asked…

In any case, the needs of the US military are the legislative facts, right? There was a request and there were those needs, accordingly, the way our country should be and its rules are being altered, right?  Provisions of ammunitions, we transport them.  And according to the law, we can transport bullets, shells, grenades, rockets, even missiles or nuclear weapons can be delivered.  Moreover, refueling of aircrafts during start-up preparation for combat maneuvers and maintenance are allowed. These are clearly the logistical support during military actions which are integral parts of the military actions, and they are clearly unconstitutional.  But now, you changed the interpretation of the Constitution, upon the US military request.

In fact, I would like to let you know how big and detailed the nature of the US request is.

Image please (reference shown)

This image was taken, two weeks after the unconstitutional cabinet decision to approve the right of collective self-defense, on July first, 2014,at the Prime Minister’s official residence on July fifteenth, 2014.  It was taken from the home page of Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet.

The gentleman who is shaking Prime Minster Abe’s hand is the famous, with his quotes “Show the flag”, “Boots on the ground”, Richard Armitage, the former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State. The one after next, the second from the left, with the red tie, with the side of his head barely showing, the one who’s back of his head is only showing, is Joseph Nye, Harvard University.

These two people, for those who have no idea who they are, are introduced in detail at the home page of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Representing the U.S.-Japan Commission on the Future of the Alliance, John Hamre, the president of Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), tells us that 14 years ago Armitage, a former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Professor Nye at Harvard University, published Armitage Nye Report proposing the approach on Japan U.S. security issues.

It’s the story of the extremely influential gentlemen:  That the precious words endowed by these two are faithfully reflected in the Japanese national policies.

The first report in October of 2000, the second in February of 2007 and the third in August of 2012, each of the Armitage Nye Report has significant influence on the security policies of Japan.

Please switch the image panel, thank you.

The second panel shows 9 suggestions to Japan from the third Armitage Nye Report, and other notable points from it.  As we see this, it becomes clear that almost everything, from the unconstitutional cabinet decision to unconstitutional national security bills, derives from the request of the US.

First, at the bottom, sorry to get to the bottom first, please look at 10 among “others”.  In the main text of the report it says as following.  “The irony, however, is that under the most severe conditions requiring the protection of Japan’s interests, our forces are legally prevented from collectively defending Japan.  A change in Japan’s prohibition of collective self-defense would address that irony in full. A shift in policy should not seek a unified command, a more militarily aggressive Japan, or a change in Japan’s Peace Constitution. Prohibition of collective self-defense is an impediment to the alliance.”

Could you place the first panel to the second one for a second?

This picture, you wonder what it is all about and then you see that these are the people who suggested the unconstitutional cabinet decision about the collective self-defense, right?  They suggested it and the suggestion was realized.  So, they came all the way to the Official Residence of the Prime Minister to say “well done”, “good job”, it’s that sort of a heart warming scene, one must wonder.

Excuse me, please take the panel off, we are going back to the 2nd panel.

The suggestion no. 1, it’s at the very top. Surprisingly, they are asking for restart of the nuclear plants.  Prime Minister went for it without considering the safety issues.

The suggestion no. 3, participating in TPP negotiation. The Abe administration blatantly broke the Liberal Democratic Party’s 2012 Lower House election campaign promise, faithfully following this suggestion.

The suggestion no. 8, protection of national security secrets of Japan, and secrets between the US and Japan.  This is an exact recipe for the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets.  It certainly has been realized.  Next one is a little lower…

No. 12 under the heading Others, encouraging the Japanese defense industry to export its technologies.  This is also realized as the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology.

In the Japan-U.S. joint statement for the new guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation, it is stated that “As Japan continues its policy of “Proactive Contribution to Peace,” based on the principle of international cooperation, the United States welcomes and supports Japan’s recent monumental achievements.  Among these are: the cabinet decision by the Government of Japan on July 1, 2014, for developing seamless security legislation; the creation of its National Security Council; the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology; the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets; the Basic Act on Cybersecurity; the new Basic Plan on Space Policy; and the Development Cooperation Charter.”  These are “the monumental achievements”, that come from the new guidelines’ accuracy in following the suggestions of the third Armitage Nye Report, right?

And as we compare the national security bills, the war act, to the list on the panel, no.2 protection of the sea lane, no. 5 cooperation with India, Australia, Philippines and Taiwan, no. 6 systematic cooperation beyond the territory of Japan on intelligence, surveillance and spy activities, and peace time, contingencies, crisis and war time systematic cooperation between the US military and Japanese Self-Defense Force, no. 7 independent Japanese operation involving mine sweepers around Strait of Hormuz, and joint surveillance operation in South China Sea with the US, no. 9 expansion of legal authority during UN peace keeping operations, no. 11 joint military trainings and joint development of weapons: most of these are included in the national security bills.

I would like to ask Foreign Minister Kishida.

Do you consider the suggestions included in the third Armitage Nye Report to be actualized as “Japan’s recent monumental achievements” as they were written in the joint statement for the new guidelines and as the national security bills?

Foreign Minister (Fumio Kishida):  First, the aforementioned report is a private report, therefore I must refrain from commenting on it from the official stand point, but at least, regarding this year’s new guidelines and the peace and security bills, I consider them not to be made according to the report.

In terms of the peace and security bills, it is an independent attempt to consider, strictly, how to protect the lives of the Japanese population and the way of life.  Regarding the new guidelines also, we consider that, as our security environment continue to reflect a harsh reality, suggest a general framework and policy directions of the Japan U.S. defense cooperation.

Taro Yamamoto:  Thank you very much.

Nakatani Defense Minister, the supplied material, the summary of the third Armitage Nye Report, was taken right out of the JMSDF (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force) Command and Staff College home page.  Do think the third Armitage Nye report suggestions are reflected in the content of the national security bills?

Defense Minister (Gen Nakatani):  The Defense Ministry and Self-Defense Force take various people’s perspectives broadly from the world into consideration of the intelligence collection, research and analysis.

Regarding the peace and security bills we have made it strictly as an independent attempt to protect the lives of the population and the way of life, it was decided as a result of lengthy open discussions with various opinions, especially, it has gone through meetings with experts in the government, moreover, among the governmental party, Liberal Democratic Party of Japan and Komei Party have conducted twenty five thorough meetings in the making process, therefore it is not made according to the Nye Report, moreover, as we will continue to research and examine it, although we do recognize that some portions of the bills overlap with the report, as it was pointed out in the report, we do insist that it is a strictly independent attempt through our consideration and research.

Taro Yamamoto:  You say that this is a private think tank, and you say that it’s just a coincidence, and the people from the private think tank visit Japan all the time and our Prime Minister gives speeches to them as well.  How intimate, and, how can you say that it’s a coincidence? You say that it is not made according to the report, although some portions overlap, no, this is overlapping almost identically.  It is just as it is. You have done a  splendid job making a perfect replica, it is an exact copy (1).

If we just look at the unconstitutional cabinet decision on July first last year and this unconstitutional national security bill, the war act, it’s been exactly as they were requested by the US. What in the world? Moreover, restart of the nuclear plants, TPP, the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets, repeal of the Three Principles on Arms Exports, anything and everything is going as wished by the US.  What’s with this absolute cooperation with 100% sincerity in complying with the US, the needs of the US military, even if we must step on our Constitution and destroy our way of life in the implementation? Could we call this an independent nation?  It’s completely manipulated, whose country is it, that’s what I’d like to discuss.

And despite this extraordinary dedication to the colonial lord, the US, on the other hand, has been eaves dropping on the “allied nation” Japan’s agencies and corporate giants and sharing the info with Five Eyes countries, England, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. We’ve heard about that last month, which is just idiotic.

How long are we going to keep sitting on this convenience?  How long are we going to stay as a suckerfish hanging onto a declining super power? (Someone speaks)  Now, I heard someone speak from behind me.  It’s the 51st state, the last state of the US, that’s a way to look at it.  But if it’s the 51st state, we’ve got to be able to choose the president.  That’s not even happening.

Are we just being helpless?  When will we stop being the colony? It’s got to be now.  Equal relationship, we’ve got to make it a healthy relationship.  It’s ridiculous that we just keep working on their demands.

I am absolutely against the war act, no way, it’s an American war act by America and for America. There is no other way other than scrapping it. Period.

If you insist on the threat of China, creating a situation in which the Self-Defense Force can go all the way to the back of the planet dilutes the defense capability around the nation.  Why does the Self-Defense Force have to join the US to the back of the planet and run around with it?  And that makes it OK to go around with other nations as well, right?  Where do we stop? There is no end.  And you seem to be not concerned at all about the lack of defense around Japan for someone who is so adamant about the threat of China.

The act must be scrapped, that is the only way there is, with these words I would like to end our questions for the morning. Thank you very much.

Translator’s note

(1), Taro Yamamoto refers to the cultural phenomenon of appreciating the craft of faithfully reproducing musical performance, scenes from movies, TV shows and so on in a similar or different format  by using the associated term “kancopi”.  The direct translation of the term would be “perfect copy”. In the session, he is mocking the extreme degree of the servitude of the administration by praising the commendable job they did in kancopying the Armitage Nye Report suggestions.

https://www.taro-yamamoto.jp/national-diet/5047

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