Ukraine War Spurs Pacifist Japan to Consider Stronger Military
- Public support for defense rises in wake of Russia’s invasion
- Push for spending faces high constitutional, political hurdles
Members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force stand in formation during a review at Camp Asaka in Tokyo.
Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/BloombergFor years, Japanese voters opposed calls for a stronger defense against the country’s nuclear-armed neighbors. Now, public opinion is shifting, even as obstacles remain to meaningful action to bolster the Asian nation’s security.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has caused many in Japan to reexamine the chances of armed conflict over East Asia’s unresolved territorial disputes. Polls show voters are worried that a failure to halt Russia could embolden China to take action against Taiwan, which Beijing sees as part of its territory, or to seize disputed East China Sea islands administered by Japan. Tokyo also has a simmering island spat with Moscow.