When Shinzo Abe, the leader of Japan's main opposition party, talks about his vision for the country's diplomacy and security, East Asia has every reason to prick up its ears.

Opinion polls in Japan suggest the Liberal Democratic Party will win the House of Representatives election on Dec 16, positioning Abe to become the next prime minister.

He was eager to show his hardline credentials when releasing his party's campaign pledges on Wednesday, presenting himself as a tough nut to crack if he takes the helm for a second time. His vision of a stronger Japanese military with new duties deserves the close attention of East Asian countries.

The LDP endorses revising Japan's constitution to transform the Japan Self-Defense Forces into a full-fledged self-defense military and proposes that the nation exercise the right to collective self-defense.

Abe said the constitutional revision should start with the amendment of Article 96, which stipulates amendments to the constitution shall be initiated by the Diet. And he aims even higher, adding that this will be an important campaign agenda item in the House of Councilors election next year.

His party proposes boosting the budget and manpower of the self-defense forces and the Japan Coast Guard to improve Japan's defense and "resolutely protect" Japan's territory - Japan has territorial disputes with China, the Republic of Korea and Russia.

During his first short term as prime minister, Abe raised Japan's military representation in government to a full defense ministry for the first time since World War II. It was part of Abe's agenda to end the restrictions placed on Japan's use of the military following the end of World War II. As a ministry it gives defense officials a greater say in national policymaking and they can now submit a budget, rather than depending on the allocation of funds by the ministry of finance. Abe also set up an advisory group to study if the current constitution allows Japan to defend its allies if attacked.

Although constitutionally barred from having offensive weapons, such as long-range bombers, aircraft carriers or nuclear arms, Japan already has a powerful military armed with sophisticated weaponry.

Abe sent a congratulatory message to the newly elected General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Xi Jinping expressing the hope that friendly communication between the two parties can be further developed and ties between the two countries enhanced. But his party's steps to upgrade Japan's military send a very different message.

To maintain his popularity with the party base and voters, Abe pledges to be tough on Japan's Asian rivals. The Japanese Cabinet Office's annual survey showed on Saturday that a record 80.6 percent of Japanese have no sense of friendship toward China, up 9.2 percentage points from last year.

Abe's card may win him votes, but it is a "beggar-thy-neighbor" strategy that will isolate Japan in the region.

(China Daily 11/26/2012 page8)