Article 9 of Japan's 1947 Constitution represents the postwar pledge Japan made to the world. Born from deep reflection on the country's wartime aggression, the landmark peace clause declares that Japan "forever renounces war as a sovereign right of the nation." It also prohibits "the maintenance of land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential."
Nearly eight decades later, however, Japan's military reality presents a starkly different picture. The country's defense budget has risen for 14 consecutive years, while its arms imports increased by 76 percent over the past five years. Japan has also eased restrictions on arms exports, including lethal weapons, and deployed long-range missiles, among other steps aimed at accelerating its military buildup.
According to Zhang Yun, a professor at Nanjing University's School of International Studies, although the wording of Article 9 has remained unchanged for decades, its underlying pacifist principles have been gradually eroded.