Japan Gets Involved With Malaysian Jet Crash Investigation

English: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the G8 summit in Heiligendamm. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I'm sure everyone and their cat has heard the tragic story of the Malaysian Airplane that crashed on the Ukraine-Russian border at this stage, but recently Shinzo Abe decided to get Japan involved in the investigation.

Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Saturday.

Abe said that Japan was ready to help the international community however it could. He also expressed that he felt it sensible not to antagonize Russia, preferring instead to be able to talk with Russian president Vladimir Putin. So far Abe has had five summits with Putin since he took office.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida returned to Japan on Friday after a four-day visit to Ukraine. Prior to the shooting down of the Malaysian plane, which the West blames on pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine, the U.S., Europe and other allies ramped up sanctions against Russia.

Abes efforts to restore relationships with Russia may come to naught while the two countries are so focused on fighting over Ukraine and the voice of reason is drowned out.

Japan has set up an entry visa ban on 23 yet to be named individuals and has also suspended bilateral talks on certain issues with Russia.

But what does this mean for Japan

Only time will tell but this could be a slippery slope and definitely something that Japan does not want to be caught in the crossfire of. Do you support Japan's actions?

The War Against War in Japan

In Japan, current plans for military reforms have caused uproar in Tokyo and have lead to 40,000 People protesting outside of the Japanese prime minister's office.

What Military Reforms did Japan have Planned?

The military reforms that the Japanese government had planned prior to the protests were to change parts of the constitution to allow Japan to expand its military role and allow troops to be deployed overseas. Many fear that this would lead Japan into becoming a war mongering fascist country. Despite the protests and the passionate immolation of one protester it would seem that the Japanese government plans to go right on ahead against the wishes of the people.

The War on Article 9

Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution outlaws war as a way to settle international disputes that involve the state. This constitution came into effect on May 3, 1947 after World war II. It was put in place in an effort to promote peace based on justice and order. Within the article it is mentioned that armed forces capable of being involved in a war will not be maintained (apart from the de facto armed forces A.K.A The Japan Self-Defense Forces who are more akin to peacekeepers than soldiers). 

The Abe administration plans to change this and therefore move away from this peaceful way of thinking and thus it is easy to understand the uproar it has cause

Pictures

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