Former Defense Minister's 'Rare Common Sense' Sparks Fierce Debate on Japan's SDF Deployment and Media Objectivity

An article by the Mainichi Shimbun, titled "LDP's 'Rare Common Sense': Former Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya Declares SDF Deployment Legally Impossible," has sparked significant debate on social media. The phrase "rare common sense," used in the article to describe Mr. Iwaya, has elicited a mix of agreement, disagreement, sarcasm, and skepticism, fueling discussions about media reporting ethics and the discernment of politicians.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun article, former Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya acknowledged the Japan-U.S. alliance as a crucial pillar of Japan's national security but stated, "We cannot simply follow everything the U.S. does, or unconditionally align with all U.S. actions." He specifically noted that deploying Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) vessels to areas where combat is ongoing, especially when they are only authorized to exercise police powers, is "inappropriate" and would likely be perceived by Iran as an act of "entering the conflict." Mr. Iwaya clearly articulated that there are legal restrictions on overseas deployments of the SDF, making hasty deployments impossible. This cautious stance on the nature of SDF's overseas activities has garnered considerable attention.

However, the phrase "rare common sense" included in the article's title instantly became a focal point of discussion among social media users. Many responded to this phrase with sarcasm and doubt, posting comments like, "'Rare common sense'? Did you write this article while sleeping?", "What 'rare common sense,' you idiots?", and "Is this supposed to be funny?" Some also criticized the Mainichi Shimbun itself for using such subjective language, with harsh opinions such as, "It's already a problem if Mainichi Shimbun wrote it," "A newspaper that loves biased reporting won't resonate by writing something like this," and "We don't need a newspaper that can't judge things neutrally."

Dissent also erupted regarding Mr. Iwaya's personal "common sense." Comments questioned, "Iwaya has common sense? Has the meaning of common sense changed?" Others alluded to past allegations, asking, "He was the only one in the Aso faction to have secret funds, and he received money from a Chinese company, so what part of that is 'rare common sense'?" There were also numerous criticisms of Mr. Iwaya's past political stance, such as, "An incompetent politician who always sided with China and downplayed South Korea's laser irradiation incident is being called 'rare common sense.' It's nothing but a sneer."

Conversely, some voices expressed support for Mr. Iwaya's proposal itself. Comments like, "Go, Mr. Iwaya! Absolutely don't let those idiots get their way!" and "'Deploying SDF vessels to areas of ongoing combat, only authorized to exercise police powers, is inappropriate. Iran would likely perceive it as entering the conflict.' That's precisely the point." showed support for Mr. Iwaya's legal interpretation regarding SDF deployment. There were also posts praising the article and cheering on specific media outlets, such as, "I think Mainichi Shimbun & TBS Hodo 1930 also show 'rare common sense,' keep up the good work!"

This trending phrase suggests that reporting on a specific politician's remarks can evolve into a wide range of issues, including media credibility, the qualifications of politicians, and national security policy. In particular, the expression "rare common sense" has highlighted the complex emotions of the public towards contemporary political circumstances and the media.

The context

To fully understand this article, non-Japanese readers may find the following background information useful:

• Mainichi Shimbun (毎日新聞): One of Japan's major national daily newspapers. It is generally regarded as having a more liberal or progressive editorial stance compared to some other prominent Japanese newspapers.
• "Rare Common Sense" (稀少な良識): This highly subjective phrase used by the Mainichi Shimbun to describe a politician sparked the controversy. It implies that sensible, well-reasoned judgment is uncommon among politicians, particularly within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The use of such a loaded term by a major news organization drew criticism regarding journalistic objectivity and perceived media bias.
• Takeshi Iwaya (岩屋毅): A prominent politician from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). While the original Japanese article mistakenly identified him as a "former Foreign Minister" (前外相), he actually served as Minister of Defense (防衛大臣) from 2018 to 2019. His comments on the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) are thus highly relevant given his past role.
• Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF): Japan's military, established under its post-World War II pacifist constitution (Article 9). Its overseas deployments are subject to strict legal interpretations and public scrutiny, particularly regarding the use of force. The concept of "police powers" refers to limited authority, primarily for self-protection or non-combat support roles, rather than engaging in active warfare, which is a key distinction in Japanese law regarding SDF operations abroad.
• Japan-U.S. Alliance: A cornerstone of Japan's national security policy. However, there's ongoing debate within Japan about the extent to which Japan should align with U.S. military actions, especially those that could involve the SDF in potential combat zones or be perceived as participating in foreign conflicts.
• Aso Faction (麻生派): A powerful internal faction within Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, led by former Prime Minister Taro Aso. Factions play a significant role in Japanese politics, influencing party leadership and policy decisions. The mentions of "secret funds" (裏金) and receiving money from a "Chinese company" are references to past political scandals or allegations that are often brought up by critics to question a politician's integrity.
• South Korea's laser irradiation incident: This refers to an incident in December 2018 where a South Korean destroyer allegedly locked its fire-control radar onto a Japanese SDF patrol aircraft. This event caused significant diplomatic tension between the two countries.