Japanese Prime Minister Kishida: "Considering 'Capability to Strike Enemy Bases' Without Exclusion"

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated on the 27th that he would not rule out and would consider possessing the "enemy base strike capability," which intercepts ballistic missiles in the adversary's territory.

According to major Japanese media reports on the day, Prime Minister Kishida emphasized at a review ceremony held at the Asaka garrison of the Ground Self-Defense Force in Nerima Ward, Tokyo, "We will not exclude any options, including possessing enemy base strike capability, and will strengthen the necessary defense capabilities." On the same day, Kishida revised the National Security Strategy, the Defense Program Guidelines, and the Mid-Term Defense Program.

Possessing enemy base strike capability means having long-range precision strike means. This is criticized as being contrary to the principle of exclusive defense (defense force can only be exercised when attacked), based on Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which stipulates "renouncing war as a means of settling international disputes and not maintaining war potential."

Since the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election in September, Prime Minister Kishida has referred to possessing enemy base strike capability as "one of the options."

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