Japanese archbishop: Boosting military would threaten Asian neighbors

Published: 2007-03-15

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Boosting the military of Japan would be a "grave threat" to Asian Pacific countries, said a Japanese archbishop. Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki strongly criticized Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's upcoming referendum to revise Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which is an obstacle to Japan's remilitarization and military involvement overseas. "Japan without Article 9 would be a serious threat to neighboring countries" because of Japan's aggressive history before World War II, said Archbishop Takami. If Japanese citizens vote in favor of the referendum May 3, Japan's Constitution Day, the government would be permitted to maintain de jure military forces which could be deployed for combat. Japan's military would be the third largest in the world, behind the United States and Russia, said the archbishop. Archbishop Takami spoke March 12 at Georgetown University in Washington.

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