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9 J. E. Asia & Int'l L. 253 (2016)
Japanese 'War Legislation': International and Domestic Threat Assessment

handle is hein.journals/jeasil9 and id is 253 raw text is: East Asian Observer 253 EAST ASIAN OBSERVER Japanese 'War Legislation': International and Domestic Threat Assessment Brendan Howe* The two Japanese security laws which came into force on March 29, 2016, have faced severe domestic and international criticism. They are seen as representing a dramatic policy change in violation of due process and international norms, and representing a threat to international peace and security. This paper finds that while the direct implications of the war legislation are neither threatening nor without precedent, what the legislative process says about the nature of governance under Abe is deeply troubling. The disdain shown by the Abe administration to due process and constitutional procedures is what threatens domestic and international governance stability. Keywords Japan, Security Legislation, Threat, Legality, Governance, Peace, Article 9 1. Introduction The Japanese National Diet passed two contentious security laws in September 2015. Entered into force on March 29, 2016, these laws have been heralded as marking a historic change in Japan's pacifist postwar defense posture.' The legislation faced stiff opposition and fierce criticism in and out of Japan. Indeed, Liu Tian of the * Professor and Associate Dean of Graduate School of International Studies, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760 Korea. B.A./M.A.(Oxon), M.A.(U. Kent), Ph.D. (U. Dublin-Trinity). ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9603-2792. The author may be contacted at: bmg.howe@gmail.com / Address: 1102 International Education Building, Ewha Womans University, 52 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemu-gu, Seoul 03760 Korea. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14330/jeail.2016.9.1.10 Ayako Mie, Security laws usher in new era for pacifist Japan JAPAN TnyEs, Mar. 29, 2016, available at http://www. japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/03/29/national/politics-diplomacy/japans-contentious-new-security-laws-take-effect- paving-way-collective-self-defense/#.Vv3NgCamqmS (last visited on May 16, 2016). IX JEAIL 1 (2o16)