Protesters rally outside Japan’s 1st arms show amid fears of a return to WWII-era militarism (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)
Some 200 protesters gathered outside a convention center near Tokyo to demonstrate against the government-backed DSEI Japan exhibition, the country’s first-ever arms show.
The Japanese government is hoping to garner interest from weapons manufacturers in a bid to boost its own arsenal to help counter looming regional threats from China and North Korea.
死の商人おことわり 武器見本市NO！ 11.18 大抗議アピール#1118幕張メッセ大抗議#武器見本市反対#STOPDSEI【呼びかけ】幕張メッセでの武器見本市に反対する会安保関連法に反対するママの会＠ちばhttps://t.co/VgJ92uYeIWpic.twitter.com/lnnMHZJSAZ
— 金蜜 (@mkimpo_kid) November 18, 2019
#武器見本市反対#DSEIJapan2019 ちょっと床が冷たかったけど、ダイインにも参加しました。｢日本国憲法の精神に照らせば、世界のどこであっても武器の見本市が開かれることに日本国は本来抗議し、反対すべきです(☝️声明より引用)私も本当にそう思います。意思を示しに参加でき良かったです。🙆🌟 pic.twitter.com/JGd2EO9KNB
— ポクシル🔖 (@rubinuna) November 18, 2019
Protesters worry the move is yet another step towards militarism, with placards emblazoned with slogans like “Say NO to Merchant of death and military exhibition!” and “War starts here. Let's STOP it here. Stop Arms Fair!”
The country has increased defense spending to roughly $50 billion per year, a decision that many feel contravenes the nation’s pacifist constitution.
There has been major opposition to the purchase of US stealth fighters, missile defense interceptors and radar systems among other technologies, which the government argues will dissuade North Korea from carrying out more missile tests in the Sea of Japan.
“Technology is advancing quickly and our equipment can’t cope against things such as hypersonic warheads and drones,” Gen Nakatani, a former defense minister and senior ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker said.
Also on rt.com If North Korea and Japan went to war, South Koreans would support Kim Jong-un, says new surveyPrime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government is also attempting to keep pace with China, whose defense budget is over three times that of Japan.
In 2014, Abe's government abolished a decades-long ban on the foreign military exports to allow Japanese companies like Mitsubishi to expand their technological offerings. However, the measure has largely failed as Japanese companies are both inexperienced in the arms development trade and do not wish to endanger their existing businesses.
In the same year the government reinterpreted its US-drafted constitution to allow Japanese troops to fight overseas. Abe’s government has sought to further amend the country’s constitution in order to bolster the country’s military which, for now at least, remains a defense force.
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