Japan will vow “counterstrike capability” in key security documents

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1. Excerpt:

   >The Japanese government will vow in key security documents to be revised this month to acquire “counterstrike capability” but exclusively for defense purposes under the war-renouncing Constitution, a government source said Friday.

   >The revision to Japan’s National Security Strategy and two other documents, including the controversial idea of allowing the country to fire upon and disable enemy missiles before they are launched from foreign territory, comes as North Korea launches ballistic missiles and China increases its military buildup.

   >While the mention of enemy base strike capability heralds a major shift in its security policy, Japan will pledge in the papers to continue “to commit to its exclusively self-defense-oriented security policy” and “to not become a military power,” the source said.

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   >In the three papers, Japan will also say it will beef up manufacturing of domestic long-range missiles and the purchase of foreign-made missiles, the source said.

   >The documents, including the National Defense Strategy, a document subordinate to the NSS, and the Medium-Term Defense Program, serve as the basis for the country’s foreign and security policies.

   >Their revisions are expected to be approved by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet on Dec. 16 at the earliest.

   *Kyodo*, 10 December 2022 08:05 JST.