Japan Press Weekly

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2014 October 22 - 28 [POLITICS]

Yamashita criticizes move to use cyberspace for military purposes

The Cabinet Committee of the House of Councilors on October 23 passed a bill for a basic law for cyber security. Japanese Communist Party Dietmember Yamashita Yoshiki voted against the bill on the ground that it will contribute to the U.S. military strengthening of its operational capability in cyberspace.

As its purpose, the bill cites “national security”. It states that a national strategy for cyber security should be compiled in close collaboration with the National Security Council.

In the deliberation prior to the vote, Yamashita pointed out that the United States in its military strategy regards cyberspace as the fifth battlefield area following land, air, sea, and space. It even suggests the possibility of countering cyber attacks from other countries by use of force, Yamashita said.

Based on the U.S. strategy, the Japanese government this month released an interim report for the second revision of the Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation. In the report, the government stated that it plans to designate outer space and cyberspace as new strategic domains and to promote bilateral efforts in these areas.

Yamashita criticized the bill for paving the way for Japan’s using cyber security systems for military purposes.