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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
In Japan, longtime restrictions1 are lifted to allow a major defense2 buildup
The policy change is widely seen as a major step toward rearming Japan more than seven decades after its demilitarization after World War II.
ROB SCHMITZ, HOST:
Japan's government today announced plans to acquire weapons that can strike other nations. Japan has avoided doing that since the end of World War II. Its post-war constitution forbids the nation from waging war. This is a major shift for Japan, for the region and for Japan's ally, the U.S. Here to discuss it with us is NPR's Anthony Kuhn, who's been in Japan reporting on this issue this week. He joins us now from Seoul. Hey, Anthony.
ANTHONY KUHN, BYLINE4: Hey, Rob.
SCHMITZ: So what does this new policy say?
KUHN: Well, the policy is laid out in three national security documents, which just came out. A key point in them is that Japan plans to have what it calls counterstrike capabilities5, by which it means long-range missiles capable of hitting North Korea and parts of China. It plans to get them and deploy6 U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles in about four years. It also includes roughly doubling Japan's defense budget to about 2% of GDP over five years and building up its defense industry and arms exports. And the government is still debating how to pay for all this, whether it's by issuing bonds or hiking taxes.
SCHMITZ: Wow, counterstrike capabilities. Why is Japan making this shift now?
KUHN: Well, the documents say that Japan is facing the toughest security environment since the end of World War II. It points in particular to China and North Korea's military buildups and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which it says is a blow to the international order. Now, Japan insists that it's going to stick to a strictly7 defensive8 security posture9, which it's long had. It's going to use the minimum force necessary and only when there are no other options available. What Japan's ruling party would like to do is to scrap10 restraints on the military by amending11 the constitution. But it doesn't have the popular support for that. Polls suggest it does have support for counterstrike capabilities. So that's what it's getting.
SCHMITZ: Got it. So I'd imagine not everyone is happy about this. What are critics saying about this?
KUHN: Critics say this goes well beyond self-defense, which Japan says its constitution does permit. They say that there just has not been a proper public discussion of this whole matter. And they also say the military strategy that's behind this is risky12 because when Japan says counterattack, that could actually include hitting an enemy missile that they think is about to be launched at them before it's actually been launched. So it's a fine line between a counterattack and a preemptive strike. And they could just get it wrong.
SCHMITZ: Well, is there any idea what this could mean for the U.S.-Japan alliance?
KUHN: Well, for a long time, the U.S. has been urging Japan to shoulder more of the responsibility for its own defense. So Washington is happy with this development. China is certainly not. But the U.S. also needs to consider that Japan is getting military capabilities independent of the U.S. in part as a sort of insurance policy...
SCHMITZ: Right.
KUHN: ...In case Japan comes under attack and the U.S. fails to come to its aid. Now, finally, if these missiles are ever used, they're going to have to be done in - with closer cooperation, military coordination13, with the U.S., which would include sharing intelligence and probably coordinating14 which targets to pick.
SCHMITZ: That's NPR's Anthony Kuhn in Seoul. Thank you so much, Anthony.
KUHN: Thank you, Rob.
1 restrictions | |
约束( restriction的名词复数 ); 管制; 制约因素; 带限制性的条件(或规则) | |
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2 defense | |
n.防御,保卫;[pl.]防务工事;辩护,答辩 | |
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3 transcript | |
n.抄本,誊本,副本,肄业证书 | |
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4 byline | |
n.署名;v.署名 | |
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5 capabilities | |
n.能力( capability的名词复数 );可能;容量;[复数]潜在能力 | |
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6 deploy | |
v.(军)散开成战斗队形,布置,展开 | |
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7 strictly | |
adv.严厉地,严格地;严密地 | |
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8 defensive | |
adj.防御的;防卫的;防守的 | |
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9 posture | |
n.姿势,姿态,心态,态度;v.作出某种姿势 | |
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10 scrap | |
n.碎片;废料;v.废弃,报废 | |
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11 amending | |
改良,修改,修订( amend的现在分词 ); 改良,修改,修订( amend的第三人称单数 )( amends的现在分词 ) | |
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12 risky | |
adj.有风险的,冒险的 | |
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13 coordination | |
n.协调,协作 | |
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14 coordinating | |
v.使协调,使调和( coordinate的现在分词 );协调;协同;成为同等 | |
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