Japanese review calls for missile defense
Source: Agencies |
July 27, 2013, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
JAPAN should strengthen the ability of its military to deter and counter missile attacks, including the possible acquisition of the ability to hit enemy bases, according to its defense ministry.
The proposal - Japan's latest step away from the constraints of its pacifist constitution - is part of a review of defense policy by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government, which released an interim report on the issue yesterday.
Final review conclusions are due by the end of the year.
Abe took office in December for a rare second term, pledging to bolster the military to cope with what Japan sees as an increasingly threatening security environment.
The report by a defense ministry panel echoed concerns aired in Japan's latest defense white paper about North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, and China's military build-up and increased activity by its ships and aircraft near the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.
The defense ministry panel said it was necessary to comprehensively strengthen "the ability to deter and respond to ballistic missiles."
Officials denied, however, that this implied Japan would make pre-emptive strikes.
"There is no change at all to our basic policy of exclusively defensive security policy," Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera told reporters.
"The issue of capability to strike enemy targets surfaces as we discuss what kind of defense measures we can take when multiple attacks have been mounted against our country."
The proposal - Japan's latest step away from the constraints of its pacifist constitution - is part of a review of defense policy by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government, which released an interim report on the issue yesterday.
Final review conclusions are due by the end of the year.
Abe took office in December for a rare second term, pledging to bolster the military to cope with what Japan sees as an increasingly threatening security environment.
The report by a defense ministry panel echoed concerns aired in Japan's latest defense white paper about North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, and China's military build-up and increased activity by its ships and aircraft near the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.
The defense ministry panel said it was necessary to comprehensively strengthen "the ability to deter and respond to ballistic missiles."
Officials denied, however, that this implied Japan would make pre-emptive strikes.
"There is no change at all to our basic policy of exclusively defensive security policy," Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera told reporters.
"The issue of capability to strike enemy targets surfaces as we discuss what kind of defense measures we can take when multiple attacks have been mounted against our country."
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