March 26, 2016
Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Nihi Sohei on March 25 at a House Budget Committee meeting demanded that the Abe administration withdraw its plan to mobilize commercial vessels and civilian sailors in the event of emergency.
JCP Nihi cited a contract that the Defense Ministry concluded on March 11 with a special purpose company, Kosoku Marine Transport. Under the contract, if necessary, the company’s ferries will be preferentially provided for the use of the Self-Defense Forces and even carry ammunition, rockets, and tanks. Nihi pointed out, “This contract reveals the government intention to have commercial ferries participate in military logistics support. They could fall under attack if the plan is implemented.”
While Prime Minister Abe Shinzo said, “It’s a given fact that safety is secured,” Defense Minister Nakatani Gen in his reply admitted the possibility of sending commercial ships to dangerous areas in emergency situations.
Nihi went on to refer to a program under which the Maritime SDF in April will begin recruiting private company workers and students as candidates to become SDF reserve personnel. He said that those who are formally awarded SDF reserve personnel status will become SDF personnel when they are called away on defense duties and that if those people fail to appear on the day they are scheduled to serve, they will face punishment of imprisonment with work or imprisonment without work for up to three years. Nihi said, “It is a matter of course for the All Japan Seamen’s Union to protest against the MSDF’s new recruiting system by criticizing it as a ‘de facto draft system’.”
Furthermore, the JCP lawmaker pointed out that the new Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation Guidelines which the two governments agreed on in April 2015 states that the Japanese government will “make appropriate use of private sector assets”. This indicates the possibility that commercial vessels will transport U.S. military personnel and supplies, Nihi said.
Defense Minister Nakatani stopped short of denying the possibility.
Past related article:
> Maritime workers stand up to gov’t policy to mobilize them for wars [February 17, 2016]
JCP Nihi cited a contract that the Defense Ministry concluded on March 11 with a special purpose company, Kosoku Marine Transport. Under the contract, if necessary, the company’s ferries will be preferentially provided for the use of the Self-Defense Forces and even carry ammunition, rockets, and tanks. Nihi pointed out, “This contract reveals the government intention to have commercial ferries participate in military logistics support. They could fall under attack if the plan is implemented.”
While Prime Minister Abe Shinzo said, “It’s a given fact that safety is secured,” Defense Minister Nakatani Gen in his reply admitted the possibility of sending commercial ships to dangerous areas in emergency situations.
Nihi went on to refer to a program under which the Maritime SDF in April will begin recruiting private company workers and students as candidates to become SDF reserve personnel. He said that those who are formally awarded SDF reserve personnel status will become SDF personnel when they are called away on defense duties and that if those people fail to appear on the day they are scheduled to serve, they will face punishment of imprisonment with work or imprisonment without work for up to three years. Nihi said, “It is a matter of course for the All Japan Seamen’s Union to protest against the MSDF’s new recruiting system by criticizing it as a ‘de facto draft system’.”
Furthermore, the JCP lawmaker pointed out that the new Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation Guidelines which the two governments agreed on in April 2015 states that the Japanese government will “make appropriate use of private sector assets”. This indicates the possibility that commercial vessels will transport U.S. military personnel and supplies, Nihi said.
Defense Minister Nakatani stopped short of denying the possibility.
Past related article:
> Maritime workers stand up to gov’t policy to mobilize them for wars [February 17, 2016]
