Japan to strengthen defence posture drastically -PM Kishida
Japan will fundamentally strengthen its defence posture by looking into options including acquiring the capability to strike enemy bases, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Monday, as Tokyo faces an assertive China and unpredictable North Korea. and strengthen our defence posture fundamentally with a sense of speed," Kishida said in a policy speech.
- Country:
- Japan
Japan will fundamentally strengthen its defence posture by looking into options including acquiring the capability to strike enemy bases, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Monday, as Tokyo faces an assertive China and unpredictable North Korea. As a step to boost Japan's defence capacity, three main documents laying out the nation's security policy - the National Security Strategy, National Defence Programme Guidelines and Medium-Term Defence Programme - will be renewed in a year, he said.
"In order to safeguard the people's lives and livelihood, we'll examine all the options including capability to attack enemy bases ... and strengthen our defence posture fundamentally with a sense of speed," Kishida said in a policy speech. Such capability would mark a shift in Japan's military posture as Tokyo, constrained by its post-World War II pacifist constitution, is to play a role of the shield in its security alliance with the United States, while Washington is to play a role of the spear. On Japan's coronavirus response, Kishida said he planned to make it possible to get a booster shot without waiting for the end of the current waiting period, set by the government, of eight months after the second shot.
Calls for early booster shots have been mounting in Japan as the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus is spreading globally, although daily COVID-19 cases have remained low in recent weeks. If infections start picking up pace again, the government will respond swiftly with such measures as stricter restrictions on activities, "while seeking the people's understanding carefully," Kishida said.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
China says Hong Kong must 'tightly hold' national security line to safeguard development
Biden to meet top national security staff on Middle East, White House says
Biden will meet with his national security team as fears rise of an Iranian strike against Israel
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan postpones India visit amid tensions in Middle East
Microsoft invests $1.5 billion in AI firm G42, overseen by UAE's national security adviser