Head of Defense Agency wants missile defense shield in Japan

Ishiba Shigeru, Defense Agency director-general, at an Upper House committee meeting on defense on July 15 expressed his intention to seek funds for a missile defense system (MDS) in Japan in the FY2004 budget.

Ishiba also stated that the government is even considering introducing a system that combines SM3 anti-aircraft missiles and PAC3 ground-to-air missiles.

MDS is supposedly like a shield covering a country to nullify enemy ballistic-missile attacks and enabling the country to launch preemptive attacks without fear of retaliation.

The introduction of MDS, which is a main component of U.S. preemptive attack strategy, will involve Japan more deeply in such a strategy, said Akahata on July 16. (end)