Japan Will Not Attact Other Countries: Diplomat

Jakarta, Feb 20 (Antara) - Japan is a peace-loving country and is committed to not attacking other countries, stated senior Japanese Diplomat, here on Thursday. "If United States vessels on the high seas are being attacked by another country, Japan`s Self-Defense Forces will not shoot the plane that attacks. Neither will we stop or intercept a missile that another country shoots over Japan," stated Minister at the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta Yusuke Shindo. Although a part of the Western Bloc, and with a need to further strengthen the Japan-United States alliance, Shindo emphasized that Japan`s peaceful orientation will never sway. Shindo stated that Japan will also not use weapons in international peace operations and will provide logistic support for the operations by other countries. Based on the National Security Strategy, Shindo added that Japan does not have missiles. "Missiles are for attacking. Japan will not attack other countries; so, we do not have any missiles. We just defend," he elaborated. Minister at the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta Yusuke Shindo visited the Antara News Agency Office on Tuesday and had a dialog with Antara`s editorial staff. Shindo`s presentation was about Japan`s Security Policy that had been decided by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe`s cabinet, on December 17, 2013. Shindo asserted that the National Security Council (NSC) was established on December 4, and the council, along with the cabinet decided the National Security Strategy and National Defense Program Guidelines on December 17.