Ldp Security Panel Backs Draft Proposals To Include 'counterattack Capability'
Lawmakers of Japan's main ruling party are calling on the government to acquire what they call a "counterattack capability" to defend the country from potential missile attacks. They renamed the term from "enemy base strike capability."
The Liberal Democratic Party's Research Commission on Security backed a set of draft proposals on Thursday.
The draft says that Japan should have the capability to hit back at enemy bases to respond to a ballistic missile attack, within the bounds of the nation's exclusively defense-oriented policy.
LDP members say that rapid advances in missile technology, such as hypersonic glide vehicles and those with the capability to change flight courses, make it extremely difficult for Japan to defend itself with its current interception systems.
In earlier discussions, some party members raised concerns the term "enemy base strike capability" could be misinterpreted that Japan may conduct a pre-emptive strike.
Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, who also heads the LDP, told the Diet last year that his administration would consider what is needed to protect the nation without ruling out any possible options including such counterattack capabilities.
The prime minister plans to revise the national security strategy and two other security documents within this year.