Japan’s ruling party pushes for contentious military strike capability to counter missile threats

According to the LDP proposals, Tokyo will introduce a defence capability that will not only target missile bases but also disable the command and control systems

The draft plan, which came at a time when China and North Korea are ramping up their military activities, will be submitted this month to Prime Minister Kishida

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Japanese navy destroyers participate in a drill off the coast of Brunei. File photo: AP

Published: 11:40am, 16 Apr 2022Updated: 12:33pm, 16 Apr 2022

A national security panel of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has proposed that Japan acquire an enemy base strike capability, in a move to counter growing missile and other security threats in the region, ruling party lawmakers said on Friday.

Whether to push for the controversial plan to possess such capability has been the key issue for a major policy review into Japan’s security by year-end, at a time when China and North Korea are ramping up their military activities.

Having such capability remains politically sensitive in Japan given its exclusively defence-oriented policy under the war-renouncing Constitution.

Under a set of draft proposals compiled by the LDP panel, Japan will introduce the enemy base strike capability that will not only target missile bases but also disable the command and control systems.

Tokyo will maintain its defence-oriented posture and limit its use of force for self-defence to a necessary minimum, specifically taking into account factors such as the international security situation at the time, according to the proposals.

The proposals were crafted as part of the government’s revision of the National Security Strategy, or the long-term guideline, and two other key documents on defence.

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