For her, the reinterpretation of Japan's Constitution is far from enough to relieve the US forces from what she described as their responsibility for regional stability or to open the way for Japanese forces to assume responsibility for the defense of other nations.

In 1946 the US wrote Japan's Constitution, demilitarizing Japan completely and dismantling its military industry. To the world at large, the most striking single feature of the Constitution is the "renunciation of war", mentioned in the preamble and encoded in Article 9.

Now the nationalist Abe, who wants Japan to cuddle up closer than ever to the US and build itself into a rich country with a strong army, will try to get on the right side of the US by turning the SDF into a full-fledged army.

And while his defense minister is on the other side of the Pacific, Abe began a seven-day trip to New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea on Sunday with military and security cooperation high on his agenda.

Japan is considering selling submarine technology to Australia - perhaps even a fleet of fully engineered, stealth vessels, and the two countries are expected to sign the Visiting Forces Agreement, the first of its kind for Japan, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun, which will facilitate mutual visits by the SDF and the Australian military for joint military exercises.

The right to collective self-defense is a watershed in Japan's post-war diplomacy. The world needs to watch closely where the country is heading.

The author is China Daily's Tokyo bureauchief.caihong@chinadaily.com.cn