Japan Press Weekly

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2012 January 18 - 24 [POLITICS]

Panel proposes ‘peace purpose only’ provision be deleted from space law

An expert panel has recently proposed that the government delete a provision limiting Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) activities to peaceful purposes from the JAXA Establishment Act.

The panel instead calls for space development which includes security matters.

The government is planning to submit a bill to revise the JAXA Establishment Act to the ordinary Diet session starting on January 24. The revision will facilitate the mobilization of JAXA researchers and engineers for the use of space for military purposes, thus accelerating an arms race in outer space.

The proposal the panel released on January 13 states the need to proactively address the use of outer space as a national strategy for both civilian and national security objectives.

It also proposes that the government designate the JAXA as a core institution acting in accordance with government interests.