Japan’s efforts to bolster its defense against growing threats in the region are currently underway, including seeking to acquire counter-attack capabilities, according to reports.
Stars and Stripes, a daily military newspaper, reported that a Japanese Defense Ministry spokesman confirmed that a meeting between the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, a conservative political party in the country, took place.
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, second left, speaks with Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, right, as they meet for a cabinet meeting at Kishida’s office in Tokyo on Friday, October 14, 2022. North Korea fired an additional ballistic missile and 170 rounds early Friday. of artillery shells into the sea and flew fighter jets near the tense border with South Korea. “Whatever the intentions, North Korea’s repeated ballistic missile launches are absolutely unconscionable and we cannot ignore its substantial advancement in missile technology,” Hamada said. (Keisuke Hosojima/Kyodo News via AP)
(Keisuke Hosojima/Kyodo News via AP)
Stars and Stripes reported that a document detailing the acquisition of missile defense capabilities was shown at the meeting.
“It is being considered within the limits of the constitution and international law based on the recognition of whether we are sufficiently equipped to protect the lives of Japanese citizens,” the spokesperson told Stars and Stripes. “Therefore, we will continue to maintain a purely defense-oriented security posture.”
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Details of the counter capabilities were not discussed because they were still under review.
The Associated Press reported Nov. 22 that a panel commissioned by the Japanese government said in a report to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida that a drastic defense buildup, including the use of preemptive strikes, is “essential” to counter growing threats in the region.
The Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is shown during its second test launch in this undated photo provided by KCNA in Pyongyang on July 29.
(Reuters)
Kishida and his ruling party want to double Japan’s current defense budget to $10 trillion over the next five years, the AP said, to pay for military spending, bolster the weapons industry and research and develop innovative technologies.
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Growing threats from Russia and North Korea, the latter of which continues to fire missiles at Japan, pushed Kishida to commit to bolstering Japan’s military capabilities.
“Strengthening deterrence is the top priority for the government and the ruling party,” Kishida said when meeting executives from the ruling bloc after receiving the panel’s recommendations.
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According to the AP, Kishida’s party changed the name from pre-emptive attack to counter-attack ability to emphasize that it would be self-defense.
With that capability, Japan would be able to engage and disable enemy missiles before they are launched.
