Assertive role for Japan in US defense deal
Print Edition
Japan and the United States unveiled new guidelines for defense cooperation yesterday, reflecting Japan鈥檚 willingness to take on a more robust international role.
The first revision to the guidelines since 1997 allows for global cooperation militarily, ranging from defense against ballistic missile, cyber and space attacks and maritime security, following a Japanese Cabinet resolution last year reinterpreting Japan鈥檚 pacifist constitution to allow the exercise of the right to 鈥渃ollective self-defense.鈥
The guidelines mean Japan could shoot down missiles heading toward the United States and come to the aid of third countries under attack.
A centerpiece of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe鈥檚 US visit this week, the guidelines are part of Abe鈥檚 wider signal that Japan is ready to take more responsibility for its security.
In return, the conservative Japanese leader, who is scheduled to meet US President Barack Obama today, has been seeking fresh assurances that America comes to Japan鈥檚 aid if necessary in a clash with China.
Announced after a meeting of US and Japanese foreign and defense ministers in New York, the guidelines eliminate geographic restrictions that had largely limited joint work to the defense of Japan and the surrounding area, a senior US official said.
鈥淲e will be able to do globally what we鈥檝e been able to do in the defense of Japan and regionally,鈥 the official said, saying the guidelines meant Japan 鈥渃an respond to attacks on third countries; not just the US.鈥
The changes would allow greater coordination and information sharing, for example, in missile defense, and allow Japan to shoot down any missiles heading for US territory or to defend US ships engaged in missile-defense in the vicinity of Japan, he said.
They would also allow increased cooperation in cybersecurity and defense of assets in space, the US official said.
Asked if the updated guidelines were a response to China鈥檚 growing power and assertiveness, the official said they would strengthen the US alliance system at an important time and reflected Asia鈥檚 growing importance, but that such moves were 鈥渘ot aimed at any single country.鈥
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
