美国国家公共电台 NPR--In Japan, longtime restrictions are lifted to allow a major defense buildup

In Japan, longtime restrictions¹ are lifted to allow a major defense² buildup

Transcript³

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）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

4 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

5 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

6 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

7 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

8 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

9 posture   

n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势

参考例句：

• The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
• He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。

10 scrap   

n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废

参考例句：

• A man comes round regularly collecting scrap.有个男人定时来收废品。
• Sell that car for scrap.把那辆汽车当残品卖了吧。

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 )

参考例句：

• Amending acts in 1933,1934, and 1935 attempted to help honest debtors rehabilitate themselves. 一九三三年，一九三四年和一九三五年通过的修正案是为了帮助诚实的债务人恢复自己的地位。
• Two ways were used about the error-amending of contour curve. 采用两种方法对凸轮轮廓曲线进行了修正。

12 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

13 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

14 coordinating   

v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的现在分词 )；协调；协同；成为同等

参考例句：

• He abolished the Operations Coordinating Board and the Planning Board. 他废除了行动协调委员会和计划委员会。 来自辞典例句
• He's coordinating the wedding, and then we're not going to invite him? 他是来协调婚礼的，难道我们不去请他？ 来自电影对白