Aegis Ashore Government Asks the US to understand the opposition Party Discrepancy June 16 4:30
Regarding the deployment of the new interceptor missile system "Aegis Asshore", Defense Minister Kono announced that the plan had been suspended due to technical problems. The plan is likely to be difficult to continue, and while the government seeks understanding from the U.S. side so that it does not become out of order due to the response to North Korea's ballistic missiles, the opposition side disagrees with the government's explanations so far. If so, I'm ready to do it.
About Aegis Ashore The government was planning to deploy the Self-Defense Forces in training areas in Yamaguchi and Akita prefectures.
On the 15th, Minister of Defense Kono found that it was necessary to repair the missile itself in order to safely drop a propulsion auxiliary device called a "booster" used when launching an intercepting missile, and said, " If you think about it, the deployment is not rational" and announced the suspension of the plan, and the government will consider the future response at the NSC = National Security Council.
However, the Ministry of Defense executives said it would be difficult to find a safe place to deploy the current system, and it would be difficult to continue the plan.
Under such circumstances, cooperation with the United States is indispensable for responding to North Korea's ballistic missiles, etc.In addition to the progress of system purchase contracts, the government has carefully explained that it will not disturb the footsteps. I am seeking understanding.
The government has said that “it is necessary to strengthen missile defense capabilities,” and is considering the introduction of new defense measures in the future, and will review the mid-term defense = mid-term defense capability improvement plan as necessary. I am.
On the other hand, the opposition party said this decision was inconsistent with the government's explanation that it needed to be deployed in order to enhance the ability to respond to North Korea's ballistic missile attacks. I am ready to do it at the security committee etc.
Is the impact on the US-Asia Pacific strategy considered?
Although the U.S. government has not made an official response, it seems that it is considering its impact, since it has evaluated that the deployment of Aegis Asshore in Japan will strengthen Japan-US defense cooperation.
Regarding the deployment of Aegis Asshore in Japan, in September last year, Deputy Secretary of State Rude, who was in charge of security policy at the Department of Defense at the time, said, ``Japan has deployed two Aegis Asshore in cooperation with its allies in the Asia-Pacific region. It is the best example of doing so.” He highly appreciated that Japan-US defense cooperation would be strengthened.
Also, in 2018, the commander of the Pacific Ocean Army at that time said, ``We can reduce the burden on the US Navy's vessels that support Japan's defense and dispatch that amount of ships to the South China Sea, Indian Ocean, and other necessary places.'' It was recognized that it would reduce the burden on employees and divide the roles.
For this reason, it seems that the US government is considering the impact of suspension of the deployment plan on Japan-US defense cooperation and the US military's Asia-Pacific strategy, and how the Department of Defense and the White House will react in the future. Will be the focus.