Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2017 April 12 - 18 [JCP]

Ogata speaks at international meeting opposing expansion of military buildup in outer space

Japanese Communist Party Vice Chair Ogata Yasuo attended the 25th conference of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space which was held on April 8 and 9 in Huntsville, Alabama in the United States.

In the morning session on the first day of the conference, along with other keynote speakers, Ogata delivered his speech. He spoke about the Japanese government move to promote the military use of space, including the Japan-U.S. joint development of a ballistic missile defense (BMD) system under the pretext of dealing with North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile development programs.

Ogata said that under the U.S. Trump administration, which has in mind military options in its stance toward North Korea, the PM Abe-led Japanese government rapidly and wholeheartedly implemented the development of a BMD system and incorporated in the FY 2017 budget the costs for research and development into the deployment of the terminal high altitude area defense (THAAD) system. Ogata also pointed out that the government in its third Basic Plan for Space Policy set a primary goal of securing outer space security for the purpose of military and intelligence activities. Ogata said that Japan became deeply embedded in the U.S.-led missile defense framework and is turning into a nation going with the U.S. anywhere - even to outer space - to participate in wars.

Ogata criticized the formation of the BMD system as the creation of a military-oriented structure for preemptive strikes and for causing an arms race and an increase in tensions. He went on to say that a missile interception system is unreliable and eats up taxpayers’ money.

Stating that it is unacceptable to use the North Korea issue to strengthen the military use of space, Ogata explained in detail ways to solve the issue politically and diplomatically.

In the afternoon session, Ogata talked about the antinuke UN conference held in NYC in late March. He said that together with Hibakusha, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo attended the conference and delivered a speech. Stressing that public opinion and movements in each nation are vital to achieve the conclusion of a treaty banning nuclear weapons, Ogata asked the participants for their support of the Hibakusha-led international signature collection campaign calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

Past related articles:
> Shii speaks for Japanese antinuke movement at UN conference [March 31, 2017]
> Abe declares military buildup in line with Trump’s demand [March 3, 2017]