Japan Is Considering Offensive Missiles to Attack Enemy Bases

A Japanese newspaper agency, the Asahi Shimbun, on July 26 reported the Japanese Defense Agency was considering including plans to retain weapons to attack enemies’ ballistic missile bases for the next “National Defense Program Outline” to be revised at the end of this year.

The weapons being considered are precision guidance bombs; the U.S. anti-ship missile Harpoon 2 with a 200-kilometer range and designed to attack ground targets; and Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of around 2,000 km. Light aircraft carriers are also being considered for introduction next year.

The National Defense Program Outline is a guideline on the goals for Japan’s long-term defense policies and its defense capability on which the country’s mid-term defense power renewal plan, which clarifies the organization of military units and plans for purchasing military facilities, are based every five years.

As for this move, the Asahi Shimbun added, “Some in the government have raised concerns that possessing such missiles as the Tomahawk could be seen as a threat to northeastern Asian nations and cause diplomatic conflicts.”

According to the Constitution’s restrictions on owning war potential, Japan has not retained weapons to attack enemy bases and is dependent on U.S. forces in times of urgency. However, many are demanding Japan possess missile capability as a precaution to a possible missile threat by North Korea.

In March last year, the Japanese Minister of State for Defense, Shigeru Ishiba, told a Diet session that it “would be worth considering weapons to attack enemy bases with,” which caused controversy. However, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was quick to deny it and stated that the government had no intention to consider such a plan, stressing that Japan will continue to concentrate solely on defense.

Hun-Joo Cho hanscho@donga.com