June 7, 2018
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2018 June 6 - 12 [POLITICS]
JCP Kokuta demands cancellation of plan to deploy land-based Aegis Ashore |
Kokuta at a Lower House Foreign Affairs Committee meeting on June 6 asked questions about the possible impact of strong electromagnetic waves emitted from Aegis Ashore radar on aircraft instruments and about noise pollution which nearby residents may possibly be exposed to.
Kokuta said that an X-band missile defense radar at a U.S. communication site in Kyoto Prefecture had prevented a medical helicopter from urgently transporting the injured in a traffic accident to hospital. He expressed concern saying, "Likewise, Aegis Ashore radar could also affect air ambulance flights."
In addition, Kokuta said that many facilities such as schools and care homes are located near a Ground Self-Defense Force training field in Akita Prefecture, the candidate site for the planned Aegis Ashore deployment, and criticized the government for choosing such a location as "most suitable".
Foreign Minister Kono Taro in response used the North Korean "threat" as an excuse and insisted, "We will push ahead with the introduction of the Aegis Ashore system."
Kokuta responded by saying that the Aegis Ashore deployment runs counter to the global trend seeking the settlement of the North Korea issue through dialogue, adding, "Excess reliance on new equipment could help create a vicious cycle of expanding arms purchases."
Past related articles:
> Local residents voice concern over gov’t plan to set up missile defense facility in their community [February 15, 2018]
> Record high 5.2 trillion yen in FY 2018 budget draft allocated for defense spending [December 23, 2017]
> Defense Ministry takes advantage of ‘threat’ from N. Korea to request biggest-ever budget [September 2, 2017]
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