Japan Institute for National Fundamentals

　　　　　I have recently received an e-mail from a man who said his son entered the Self-Defense Forces last year. The following is its summary:
　　　　　"My son entered the SDF, admiring SDF troops who worked hard to protect and rescue citizens from disasters including the Chuetsu Earthquake. But the pending national security legislation is well expected to expand operations of SDF troops and increase the risk of their deaths. I don't hope to leave my son in the SDF anymore. I always worry about him."
　　　　　I see the father's natural wish for his son's safety. I would like to respond to the opinion that the farther may share with many other parents.

National security legislation designed to deter war
　　　　　It may be important to analyze the opinion from two points -- the safety of the Japanese people and their state, and that of SDF troops.
　　　　　As for the first point, the security legislation is designed to develop national security arrangements to protect the people's lives and their state's safety. At present, measures to protect the people and their state are uncertain for a gray zone between peacetime and wartime situations. The legislation would allow minimum military operations to be conducted against a hostile aggression in a situation where no specific action is prescribed against a sudden hostile aggression at present,
　　　　　The collective self-defense right exercised by all countries other than Japan allows friendly countries to jointly defend themselves. If Japan is prepared to exercise the collective self-defense right for joint military operations with the United States and other friendly countries even in a limited manner against China attempting to snatch the Japanese Senkaku Islands and North Korea threatening to launch nuclear attacks, the preparedness may help deter them from launching aggression against Japan. In this sense, the national security legislation represents a war-deterring law rather than a law of war.
　　　　　Some media organizations that denounce the security legislation as a law of war criticized a U.N. peacekeeping operation bill as turning Japan into an aggressor 23 years ago. But the SDF's participation in such operations in the past 23 years has received high ratings in the international community, brushing off the criticism from the media. This may be the same case with the national security legislation.

People's confidence in SDF
　　　　　As for concern about greater risks for SDF troops, I would like to point out that SDF troops are exposed to risks irrespective of the security legislation. Even in peacetime operations, SDF troops make ultimate sacrifices. For example, some SDF members died during their emergency transportation of patients from remote islands under bad weather. Deadly accidents can take place during military exercises.
　　　　　But SDF troops have made an oath to risk their lives to accomplish their missions to protect the people and their state.
　　　　　As citizens see SDF troops risking their lives to work for public interests, 92.2% of respondents in a public poll say they have confidence in the SDF. A dominant majority of the Japanese people respect and thank the SDF, feeling that the SDF can protect the people and their state.
　　　　　The SDF with missions to protect the people and their state constitute a central axis to unite the people and their state. I wish that people closer to the axis would correctly understand the security legislation and learn that the legislation does not represent any law of war.

Yoshiko Sakurai is President, Japan Institute for National Fundamentals.