Japan Shaken Between the Cold War--Contingency Legislation and the Shift in Defense Policy (1978)

Japan Shaken Between the Cold War--Contingency Legislation and the Shift in Defense Policy (1978)

The prime minister of Japan in 1978 was Takeo Fukuda. He served as prime minister from 1976 to 1978, and as a mainstream conservative politician, he managed a stable administration in terms of both economic policy and foreign policy. However, his administration was greatly affected by developments at home and abroad.

At the time, Japan was in the midst of the Cold War, and tensions were rising, especially in Asia; with the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 and the rise of communist forces in Southeast Asian countries, Japan faced security challenges. 1977 saw US President Carter suggest a reduction in US forces in Korea, which This raised concerns within the Japanese government that the U.S. military presence in South Korea might upset the security balance in East Asia. At the same time, the Soviet Union's military buildup was advancing, causing tensions with China. Against this backdrop, the Japanese government was forced to review its defense policy.

In response to these changes in the international environment, the Fukuda administration officially ordered a "study of contingency legislation" on July 27, 1978. On the following day, July 28, the "White Paper on Defense" was released, clearly outlining Japan's policy of strengthening its defense policy. The purpose of this study of contingency legislation was to strengthen the nation's ability to control and respond quickly in the event of war or a large-scale disaster. However, there was strong opposition to this move. In particular, aspects similar to the prewar National Mobilization Law were pointed out, and there was widespread concern that the government might use a contingency as an excuse to strengthen its control of speech. There was also criticism that it could lead to restrictions on the media and publications, and opposition parties and civic groups called for careful discussion.

At the same time, the 1978 White Paper on Defense discussed what role Japan should play in the international military balance. This raised the need to strengthen defense cooperation between Japan and the U.S., and in November 1978, the Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation (Guidelines) were formulated. Under these guidelines, Japan was required to contribute to the stability of the Far East region jointly with the U.S. military. In particular, there was an urgent need to strengthen the equipment and operational capabilities of the Self-Defense Forces, and the Air and Maritime Self-Defense Forces were modernized.

While strengthening defense policy, the Fukuda administration focused on improving Japan-China relations on the diplomatic front, and the conclusion of the Japan-China Peace and Friendship Treaty in August 1978 marked a major milestone in postwar Japanese diplomacy. However, the conclusion of the treaty sparked discontent among some conservatives, and the Fukuda administration sought to balance this discontent by emphasizing domestically oriented policies, such as visiting Yasukuni Shrine and promoting the Genji system. This was probably a political strategy to maintain the support of conservatives while promoting a stronger defense policy.

Thus, in 1978, against the backdrop of changes in the Cold War structure and the destabilization of the security environment in East Asia, Japan was reexamining its defense policy and strengthening Japan-China relations. The study of contingency legislation was promoted as part of these trends, but it was not ultimately passed into law as a result of the public debate that ensued. However, it can be said that this debate paved the way for the subsequent revision of the Self-Defense Forces Law and the strengthening of the defense system.