Given secure peace, it is of course a gain to mankind when ways are found of increasing the productivity of labour. But in time of war, or when there is an imminent threat of war, everything that makes labour more productive is a misfortune, since it sets free a greater proportion of the energies of nations for the business of mutual extermination.
Source: Bertrand Russell: Human Society in Ethics and Politics, 1954, part II: The Conflict of Passions, chapter 6: Scientific Technique and the Future, n2
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Many people understand that a war between major powers would be catastrophic, and for this reason, such wars have not occurred for a long time. In contrast, conflicts and wars between small countries, as well as wars of aggression by major powers against smaller nations, continue to happen. Unfortunately, even conflicts and wars between small nations or between minority groups have become increasingly deadly due to advancements in science and technology, which have led to more sophisticated weaponry capable of mass killings. Ethnic cleansing has even become possible. The absence of war between major powers does not mean we can afford to feel secure.
Fortunately, Japan has remained in a state of peace. However, it would be highly concerning if politicians emerged who, believing that Japan is safe under the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, argued that limited military action should be permissible when necessary. Since the Abe administration (at the time), Japan has been promoting policies to increase arms exports, but how many citizens truly recognize the dangers of this? The government claims that weapons will not be sold to countries engaged in conflict, but once a conflict erupts in such a country, Japanese-made weapons will inevitably be used. Furthermore, there is no way to completely prevent arms smuggling.
Meanwhile, the stock prices of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, both of which produce and export weapons, continue to rise, and these companies make large political donations, primarily to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Bribery is an inherent part of the arms trade, and many politicians and business leaders are scrambling to take advantage of even the slightest opportunity for profit.
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