Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reiterated his commitment to bolstering Japan’s defense posture by looking into “all options,” including the acquisition of “enemy base attack capability,” indicating a potential shift from the country’s post-war pacifist constitution.
Acquiring enemy base attack capability has been a contentious issue in Japan as it could violate the country’s war-renouncing Constitution. Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution contains a “no war” clause that forbids the use of force or threat as a means to settle international disputes.
Japan’s cabinet recently approved a 770 billion yen ($6.8 billion) request for an extra defense budget, bringing the total national defense budget to 6.1 trillion yen ($53.2 billion). The goal was to ramp up Japan’s defenses against North Korea’s missile threat and China’s increasingly assertive maritime activity.
Abe had earlier warned China that Japan and the United States could not stand by if China invaded Chinese-claimed Taiwan, given that an armed invasion of Taiwan would pose a serious threat to Japan.
“I will say to China the things that need to be said and strongly urge China to act responsibly, while at the same time cooperating on matters of common interest and aiming to build constructive and stable relations,” Kishida said.
The prime minister also aims to develop Japan-Russia relations by resolving the territorial issue and concluding a peace treaty, adding that he would continue to urge North Korea “to make appropriate responses strongly.”
“I will visit the United States at the earliest possible date and meet with President Biden for talks, further reinforcing the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance, which is the foundation for the peace and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region and, indeed, the international community,” he said.
