Japan seeks new missile defence plan with eye on China, North Korea
- Tokyo has been increasingly concerned by Beijing’s military activity around the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea
- The proposal, if adopted, would mark one of the most significant shifts in Japan’s defence stance since the end of WWII
A statement from the Japanese National Security Council (NSC) said it had been directed by Abe, who leads the agency, to look at ways to deter threats ranging from North Korean ballistic missiles, to cruise missiles, stealth aircraft and drones deployed by other adversaries. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party asked the NSC to consider allowing the country’s military to target enemy bases to halt missile attacks.
“There is a question of whether intercepting attacks alone is sufficient to protect peace, lives and people’s livelihoods,” the NSC said.
Abe’s announcement did not explicitly refer to the right to attack facilities in a hostile country if the government judged an attack was imminent, but there have been widespread reports that the intention is for a more proactive and robust military capability.
The announcement does, however, permit Abe to take any blame or credit for the policy, helping to cushion his successor from possible backlash.