Japan Government Considers Pre-Emptive Military Strikes

Jan 2, 2004

TOKYO (AP) - To counter the growing threat of terrorism, Japan's government plans to consider legislation that would relax a long-standing ban against a pre-emptive military strike, allowing troops to fire at suspicious vessels and armed spies - even outside the country's borders, a newspaper reported Wednesday.

If approved, the proposed bill could anger Asian countries that suffered brutalities under Japanese military rule decades ago.

Japan is strictly limited by its post-World War II constitution from launching an offensive military attack. While not barred from defending itself, Japan has stood by a post-war doctrine preventing its forces from firing until they are attacked.

The legislation, which would be submitted during the parliamentary session from January, is likely to permit the military to strike first when there is a threat to national security, such as armed spies on Japanese soil, the national Asahi newspaper said.

It may also let naval forces - plying territorial or international waters - shoot at and sink vessels deemed dangerous, the Asahi said, citing unidentified sources.

The report comes as Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi pushes to expand the military's role, which his backers say is necessary to counter security risks in the post-Sept. 11 era of terrorism and other unpredictable threats.

Critics say it augurs a return to Japan's militaristic phase of the early 1900s, and could violate the war-renouncing constitution.

Koizumi pushed through a set of emergency bills in June expanding the military's ability to fight back against a foreign attack.

The Asahi said lawmakers who support the proposed bill say the military and other law enforcement agencies can't combat terrorists and other security threats unless there are fewer restrictions on when troops can fire their weapons.

Japanese police carry firearms and Coast Guard patrols have machine guns and cannon. But they, too, can only fire in self-defence.

http://www.brunei-online.com/bb/thu/jan1w15.htm