Possession of “counterattack capability” Liberal-Government-Kingdom agreement today Significant shift in security policy

The Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito are expected to agree on the possession of "counterattack capability" to strike enemy missile launch bases at the working-level talks on the 2nd.

It will have a capability that until now has not been possessed as a policy judgment, and it will be a major shift in Japan's postwar security policy.

Regarding the "counterattack capability," the Komeito held a foreign affairs and security research committee on the 1st to gather opinions within the party, and the party agreed to possess the "counterattack capability," and entrusted it to the working-level officials of the ruling party consultations. I decided.

Since the Liberal Democratic Party has already said that "counterattack capability" is necessary, both the LDP and Komeito are expected to agree to possess "counterattack capability" at working-level talks on the 2nd.

"Counterattack capability" is also called "enemy base attack capability," and while the government has legally considered it to be within the scope of the right of self-defense, it has decided not to possess it as a policy decision. It was the focus of the ruling party talks towards

The agreement between the two parties will give the government these capabilities, which will be a major shift in Japan's postwar security policy.

Based on the agreement between the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, the government hopes to include "counterattack capability" in three documents, including the National Security Strategy, which will be revised by the end of the year. can be exercised when the three requirements for exercising the right of self-defense are met, such as using the minimum necessary force, and the timing of exercising is the same as the normal exercise of the right of self-defense, when another country launches an armed attack. are being considered.

On the other hand, the government is considering the total defense budget for the next five years from 40 trillion yen to 43 trillion yen.

We will proceed with final coordination with the ruling party on a scale that is about 1.5 times the size of the current Medium-Term Defense Program, which will last for five years until next fiscal year.