February 7, 2023

"It cannot be denied that Japan may suffer tremendous damage," if Japan comes under attack in retaliation for its exercise of the right to collective self-defense to attack enemy bases even when Japan is not under attack.

Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu said this in response to a question Japanese Communist Party representative Kokuta Keiji made at a Lower House Budget Committee meeting on February 6.

Kokuta at the meeting asked DM Hamada if the government can ensure that a possible act of retaliation will cause no damage to Japan.

DM Hamada answered, "Our country, after exercising its collective self-defense right, could be attacked by a foreign country depending on how the situation develops and could indeed incur damage."

Kokuta then asked, "If that is the case, don't you think that Japan will suffer tremendous damage?"

Hamada in reply admitted to that possibility "in general terms", but added, "We will implement necessary measures to eliminate such armed attacks." By saying this, he hinted at carrying out further attacks for a possible reprisal.

Kokuta pointed out, "The possession of counterforce (enemy-base strike) capabilities will get Japan involved in U.S. wars abroad,” and demanded that the "three key national security documents" - the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Program Guidelines, and the Mid-Term Defense Program - which outline Japan's possession of the enemy-base strike capability be retracted.