Japan may strike enemy bases in case of attack on allied country — newspaper

Military & Defense November 25, 2022, 10:51

According to the paper, the government is actively deliberating over the issue

TOKYO, November 25. /TASS/. Japan's armed forces may get approval to launch missile strikes on bases on the territory of a potential enemy not only in case of direct aggression against it, but also in case of an attack on an allied country. This is now being worked out in preparation for revising key security documents, the Sankei Shimbun newspaper reported on Friday, citing government sources.

Strikes on the territory of a potential enemy in the event of its attack on an allied country, according to the sources, will be allowed when there is an immediate threat to the existence of Japan itself.

According to the paper, the government is actively deliberating over the issue. As of now, Japan has one full-fledged military ally: the US. That being said, a similar system of defense cooperation with Australia is being worked out.

Previously, the council of experts headed by the Japanese Prime Minister officially recommended that within five years the country should prepare for having the capability of striking enemy territory if a crisis situation should emerge. To do that, the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper reported on Friday that Japan was considering the deployment of long-range land-base missiles primarily on remote islands in the southwest of the country, where Tokyo has a territorial dispute with China. They could also be deployed at the range around Mount Fuji in the center of the country and on the country's northernmost island of Hokkaido, which is in close proximity to Russia.

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