Japan Studies to Have Offensive Military Bases Amid Rising Fear of North Korea
2017/8/5
the Editor
Nikkei Shimbun reported on Saturday that the Ministry of Defense would start its study on whether Japan should possess strike capability to such enemy targets as ballistic missile facilities. As the national defense guideline would be revised in around the end of the next year, the ministry would study introduction of the capability as deterrent to the North Korea.
Nikkei Shimbun
Japan has no capability and equipment to attack any other country as it has boasted ‘exclusively defensive policy,’ in which Japan could employ its defense forces only when it is attacked while limiting its forces for exclusive use of its defence.’
The government and the majority party officials are calling for introduction of Tomahawk cruise missile from USA by means of foreign military sales.
Japan is concerned with rapid development of nuclear and ballistic missile technologies of North Korea, including ICBMs and new type of ballistic missile converted from SLBMs.
In March, the national security study group within LDP, the majority party, advocatedadovocated to possessposess offensive military capability to enemy bases. The report was mainly compiled by Itsunori Onodera who has just inaugurated as the new Minister of Defense this week.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe instructed his newly appointed defense minister, Itsunori Onodera, to commence works to revise the national defense guideline. The ministry of defense would hope to include its intention to acquire new capabilities to attack enemy military bases.
