June 23, 2020

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira on June 22 severely criticized Prime Minister Abe Shinzo for wanting to make it possible for Japan to have the capability to attack enemy bases in violation of the postwar constitutional principle banning an offensive military.

PM Abe at a press conference on June 19 expressed his intent to launch discussions on Japan's possession of the capability to attack enemy bases in the National Security Council as early as this coming summer.

The government is intensifying its move to have the country equipped with the capability to attack enemy bases by seeking to introduce long-distance cruise missiles (standoff missiles) in Japan as well as installing F-35B stealth fighters on Izumo-class escort ships.

However, Koike pointed out, "The Constitution prohibits Japan from possessing offensive weapons under any circumstances since these weapons would go beyond the scope of the minimum requirements for the defense of the country. He also pointed out, "In the first place, successive Defense Ministers and directors general of the Defense Agency (currently Defense Ministry) considered implementing the capability to attack enemy bases as 'unrealistic'."

He said, "To attack enemy bases is the same as to preemptively wage a military strike. To do so would cause a counterattack against Japan, resulting in inflicting immense damage to Japan." He added that the JCP will make efforts to block the start of discussions which would trample on the Constitution.

Past related article:
> 2019 defense white paper stresses need to enhance cross-domain operation capabilities [September 28, 2019]