Opposition is growing in Japan to a United States request for Tokyo to dispatch naval vessels to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

The issue has placed Japan in a dilemma, with politicians and academics questioning whether Tokyo should support Washington. They argue that Japan should not simply follow US policy but instead assess its alliance with Washington within the framework of international law — reflecting the long-standing tension between Japan's alliance obligations and the pacifist principles embedded in its constitution.

The debate intensified after US President Donald Trump called on five countries, including Japan, to send naval vessels to escort ships through the strategic waterway.

The situation has put Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in a delicate position ahead of a scheduled meeting with Trump on Thursday.

Speaking at a session of the House of Councillors Budget Committee on Wednesday, Takaichi said Japan currently has no plans to dispatch Self-Defense Force vessels to the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Nikkei.

Since the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran in late February, Takaichi has avoided commenting directly on the legality of the US military operation, while criticizing Iran for its attacks on civilian facilities in Gulf countries.

Former prime minister Shigeru Ishiba said on a Fuji Television program on Sunday that the central question is whether the US strikes on Iran comply with international law. Without resolving that issue, he said, it would be difficult to determine what actions Japan could legitimately take.

Atsushi Koketsu, a professor at Yamaguchi University, told China Daily that the US and Israeli strikes on Iran clearly violated international law and the United Nations Charter. He noted that the Japanese government had so far refrained from criticizing the US actions and predicted that Tokyo was unlikely to do so during the meeting.

Regrettable silence

Koketsu said Japan's silence is regrettable for a country that describes itself as a peaceful nation and urged its leaders to maintain the country's long-standing diplomatic stance of upholding international law and international order. Fully aligning with US positions could undermine Japan's image as a peaceful nation, he warned.

Japanese media reports indicated that Tokyo faces a significant legal dilemma if it considers sending Self-Defense Forces vessels to the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Nikkei Asia, any such move would hinge on two factors: whether the US military action against Iran complies with international law, and whether the situation qualifies as a "situation threatening Japan's survival" under its security legislation.

During deliberations on the 2015 security laws, the Japanese government stated that it would not support the use of force that violates international law.

Regarding how the situation in the Strait of Hormuz relates to the legal concept of a "situation threatening Japan's survival", Kiyomi Tsujimoto, an upper house member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said on X that she had submitted written questions to the government earlier this month. The government planned to approve its response at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

An editorial published by the Tokyo Shimbun on Wednesday said that the US and Israeli strikes on Iran violated international law, adding that Japan should not become involved in the military conflict or yield to such demands.

Beyond legal and alliance considerations, energy security has emerged as a more immediate concern for Japan. Koketsu said the Middle East remains a crucial energy source for Japan and that Tokyo has long maintained relatively stable relations with countries in the region through diplomacy. If Japan were to follow US policy too closely or take part in military operations, it could damage relations with Iran and other regional countries, ultimately undermining Japan's long-term energy security, he warned.

Given Japan's alliance with the US and its long-standing friendly relations with Iran, Koketsu said Japan could have played a mediating role between the two countries. However, the government has shown little willingness to pursue such diplomatic efforts.

"If Japan simply follows US policy, it will find it difficult to gain trust and respect in the international community," he said.

According to a poll released by the Asahi Shimbun on Sunday, 82 percent of respondents said they did not support the US strikes on Iran, while only 9 percent expressed support.

houjunjie@chinadaily.com.cn