Japan Press Weekly

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2011 May 18 - 24 [POLITICS]

JCP: Stop jointly developing missiles with US

A Japanese Communist Party representative demanded a halt to the Japan-U.S. joint study and development of military missiles.

JCP member of the House of Councilors Inoue Satoshi at the House Audit Committee meeting on May 18 pointed out that the U.S. is suggesting that Japan enter the production stage of the interceptor missile SM3blockIIA, which is under Japan-U.S. joint development. Defense Minister Kitazawa Toshimi acknowledged the fact.

The United States is also planning to transfer the missile to a third country. Inoue criticized the U.S. government for pushing ahead with such a plan without Japan’s agreement.

He urged the government, saying “Once Japan takes part in the joint-development project, the missiles can be exported to anywhere in the world without Japan’s consent. The joint study and development, opening a loophole to the three principles on arms embargo, must be terminated.”

Since the era of Liberal Democratic Party governments, Japan-U.S. joint study and development of ballistic missile defense has provided an exception to the arms embargo principles. Defense Minister Kitazawa stated that government expenditures related to missile defense have amounted to 1.15 trillion yen.