Constitutional change would open the door for the normalization of Japanese forces, allowing greater participation in international peacekeeping operations, closer cooperation with the U.S., and perhaps the acquisition of offensive weapons such as cruise missiles. It would also fulfill a goal the LDP has held since it was established in 1955.
 
修宪将为日本军队正常化开启一扇门，日本得以参与更多的国际维和行动，增进日美合作，或许还能添置巡弋飞弹之类的攻击性武器。这么一来，也会落实自民党从1955年建党以来即信守的一则目标。
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made constitutional amendment the cornerstone of his young administration, declaring that Japan must "slough off（脱落、抛弃、丢弃） the postwar regime." That kind of talk sets off alarm bells（警铃） for critics who view any easing of military limits as the beginning of a backslide（倒退、再犯） into wartime aggression.
 
首相安倍晋三把修宪当成其新内阁的基石，宣称日本必须“摒除战后体制”，这类的谈话令批评者心头为之一惊，他们认为任何军事限制的松绑，实为日本重返战时侵略主义的契机。
 
(Former Singaporean leader Lee Kuan Yew memorably（值得纪念地；难忘地） summed up these fears years ago when he said that allowing Japanese participation in peacekeeping operations was akin（性质相同的；类似的） to giving liquor-flavored chocolates to a recovering alcoholic.)
 
关于这些恐惧，前新加坡领导人李光耀多年前曾以一句铭心之言概述之：让日本参与维和行动，不啻把酒味巧克力送给一名勒戒中的酒鬼。

注释：backslide 倒退、再犯

He kept away from strong drink for years, but recently I'm afraid he' begun to backslide. 他有好几年没有酗洒了，但我担心最近他又故态复萌了。