For more than 75 years, Japan has had, at the centre of its constitution, a very particular promise.

The country renounces war as a sovereign right. Forever. This means the country is forbidden from maintaining an army, navy or air force - and from using force as a means of settling international disputes.

This so-called “peace constitution” was an instrumental part of Japan rising from the ashes of World War II, and the destruction that it both suffered, and meted out.

But now, Japan is dramatically beefing up its military.

Today, International and political editor Peter Hartcher on why Japan is arguably breaching its own constitution. And what it might mean for the global order.

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