Japan Confirms Decision to Scrap Aegis Ashore Program

Tokyo, June 25 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government on Thursday confirmed its decision to fully pull the plug on its program to introduce the Aegis Ashore land-based missile defense system from the United States. The decision, which is expected to be formalized at a cabinet meeting later this year, is seen prompting the government to review its national security strategy, examining the option of possessing the capability to attack enemy bases pre-emptively. On Thursday, Defense Minister Taro Kono attended a joint meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's National Defense Division and Research Commission on National Security to report the outcome of discussions on the matter at a National Security Council meeting the previous day. After the LDP meeting, Kono told reporters that the government has decided to abandon the planned deployment of Aegis Ashore units in Akita and Yamaguchi prefectures. Kono also said the Defense Ministry has considered candidate locations other than Akita and Yamaguchi for deploying the U.S.-developed missile interceptor system, but concluded that it is "extremely difficult to find an alternative location." On the same day, the minister conveyed the NSC meeting outcome to the governors of Akita and Yamaguchi on the phone. He confirmed to Akita Governor Norihisa Satake that the government no longer plans to deploy the missile defense system in the prefectures or elsewhere in the country. At a press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the ministry informed the United States of the decision to scrap the Aegis Ashore program before it was made public. The government had not publicly disclosed the decision immediately after the NSC meeting, apparently prioritizing the reports to the LDP and the U.S. government. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed his administration's intention to thoroughly review the security strategy and map out a new vision this summer. Whether the government will move forward to equip the country with an enemy base strike ability under Abe's initiative will be closely watched in the review. The government is also expected to look at possible alternatives to the Aegis Ashore system, such as the deployment of the Aegis system at sea. The government aims to draw a certain conclusion by September to allow it to be reflected in budget requests from government agencies for fiscal 2021. The government plans to revise its National Security Strategy, the National Defense Program Guidelines and the Medium Term Defense Program. It will be the first time for the National Security Strategy to be revised. The government is also expected to reflect in the strategy the possible international order after the coronavirus pandemic is over, as well as concepts of economic security. END