Japan looks to end It's Six-Decade-Old Constraints on It's Military

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is pushing to remove six-decade-old constraints on his country's military, a goal the Obama administration said Monday it supports—but one that could also unsettle the region. 

When President Barack Obama arrives in Japan on Wednesday, he will find a country fearful of China's rise and worried about America's commitment to protecting its allies.

To bolster Japan's role in regional security, Mr. Abe wants to change the government's interpretation of the constitution to allow for "collective self-defense"—meaning the military could come to the defense of allies such as the U.S. even if the country itself wasn't attacked. 

In theory, the changes would enable Japan to shoot down a North Korean ballistic missile heading toward the U.S. or fire at a Chinese warship scuffling with an Australian cruiser. They would also give it more flexibility in a conflict over Japanese-held islands in the East China Sea that are claimed by China.

Alongside his economic growth strategy, dubbed Abenomics, the military shift is at the top of Mr. Abe's agenda this year. 

Speaking in parliament in February, Mr. Abe described a hypothetical scenario in which Japan declined to stop a missile aimed at a U.S. ship because of self-imposed restrictions. "The damage to the Japan-U.S. alliance from failing to do that would be incalculable," he said.

The cabinet could approve the new interpretation this summer, and parliament would follow in the fall by revising defense-related laws, under the scenario sketched out by Mr. Abe's aides, although skepticism from some in his ruling coalition makes the timing uncertain. 

A greater defense role for Japan could help the U.S. cope with its defense-budget constraints. Pentagon officials have encouraged Mr. Abe's efforts, arguing that Tokyo needs to do more to balance China's investment in its armed forces. 

"The Department of Defense welcomes Japan's re-examination of their interpretation of its constitution relating to the right of collective self-defense," Marine Lt. Col. Jeff Pool, a Pentagon spokesman, said Monday. "We believe it would allow the U.S. and Japan to do more together to continue to advance prosperity and security in the region."

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