Answer to these questions
It is clear that Japan needs to expand its role through the SDF so as to counter potential threats from other nations like North Korea and China. Both of these countries are constantly developing nuclear and military weapons programs. In the beginning of 2015, China staged the largest military parade to celebrate 70 years since the World War II in which Japan was defeated. Additionally, Beijing has long standing territorial disputes with many of its Asian neighbors in the seas located in the South and East China. North Korea has also been constantly threatening the United States and its allies including Japan with its intentions to use nuclear weapons on them. There are fears that these threats will actually come to pass. These happenings call for a change of the constitution to make Japan to be more active in defensive and offensive military operations. As a result, Tokyo has expanded its military role since it has a history and growing international pressure.
Pacifist party in Japan opposing a more offensive stance in foreign relations
Foreign relations involve relating national interest to international situations. It is important that Japan takes into account her situations in its policy choices and subject them to popular pressure and scrutiny. Since Japan is a democratic republic, its foreign relations must be designed to provide education that is independent concerning international affairs as well as organizing the opinion of the public and transforming it into political pressure. The pacifist party could therefore be right in opposing the offensive stance in foreign relations. This is because they lack a broadened popular pressure base, political organization that is stimulated as well as developed minority techniques that challenge majority consensus.
