TOKYO, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Japanese intellectuals and citizens have warned against the country's return to a "prewar state," voicing concern over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's policies to expand Japan's military capabilities and ease restrictions on arms exports.
The remarks were made Thursday evening at a symposium in Tokyo themed "Do Not Let Japan Move Toward a New Prewar State," where participants examined the risks posed by the Takaichi administration's defense policies and called on Japan to avoid repeating the mistakes of war.
In April, the Takaichi government revised the "three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology," lifting a ban on exports of lethal weapons. It also plans to revise the country's three key security documents by the end of this year.
Japanese media have recently reported that the government may alter the wording of the country's Three Non-Nuclear Principles during the revision and consider including discussions on the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines.
Atsushi Koketsu, professor emeritus at Yamaguchi University, outlined how Japan has gradually relaxed restrictions on arms exports. Although the three security documents have yet to be revised, he said Japan's 2026 Defense White Paper and other policy documents suggest that the revision will further promote military buildup and strengthen the country's defense industry.
Koketsu told Xinhua that the policies and ideology of the Takaichi administration bear a striking resemblance to those of the Japanese militarist regime of the 1930s. He asserted that Takaichi's tenure must be brought to an end as soon as possible, and that a cabinet committed to the cause of peace should be established in its place.
Mizuho Fukushima, leader of Japan's Social Democratic Party, said she felt a strong sense of crisis over Japan's slide toward a "new prewar state." She noted that Japan's economy and military sector were becoming increasingly integrated and warned that the three security documents could be revised through a Cabinet decision after the current extraordinary Diet session concludes.
Mitsutaka Ito, a Japanese citizen who attended the symposium, told Xinhua that although the event's theme urged Japan not to move toward a new prewar state, many people believed the country was already in such a state. He described the planned revision of the three security documents as a highly dangerous development.
Takakage Fujita, secretary-general of the Association for Inheriting and Propagating the Murayama Statement, told Xinhua that lifting restrictions on lethal weapons exports and planning to revise the security documents were not isolated measures but part of the Takaichi government's broader military buildup, reflecting its right-wing orientation.
Fujita described Takaichi as a strongly right-wing advocate of military expansion among Japan's postwar prime ministers. He said her far-right nature is now being exposed in a particularly egregious manner, accusing her of distorting history, denying Japan's war of aggression, and continually expanding the country's military capabilities while catering to the United States.
Fujita called for Takaichi to leave office as soon as possible. ■
