An executive of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party suggested Sunday that Japan possibly needs to consider whether it should acquire the capability to cond<\/b>
An executive of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party suggested Sunday that Japan possibly needs to consider whether it should acquire the capability to conduct pre-emptive strikes against enemy bases.
Holding an ability to strike an enemy base to forestall a missile attack by a foreign country \u201cwould not violate the Constitution,\u201d but Japan currently is not equipped to carry out such an action, LDP Vice President Masahiko Komura said on a television program.
\u201cIt will be no problem to consider whether to start specific discussions\u201d on the acquisition of the capability to attack enemy bases, Komura said.
Toranosuke Katayama, coleader of opposition party Nippon Ishin no Kai, was also positive about studying the acquisition of such capability. \u201cIt will be alright to start considering it. Starting a study may work as pressure (on North Korea),\u201d Katayama said.
North Korea has test-fired a series of missiles, including one that fell into Japan\u2019s exclusive economic zone last year.
But Natsuo Yamaguchi, chief representative of Komeito, the LDP\u2019s junior coalition partner, showed a cautious stance about launching the proposed study. \u201cJapan has no specific plans to consider such attack capability,\u201d he said on the same TV program.
Kenji Eda, deputy president of the main opposition Democratic Party, said Japan can put pressure on a potential attacker even without a direct military option.
Kazuo Shii, chairman of the Japanese Communist Party, raised strong opposition. \u201cWe should never take the option of a pre-emptive strike,\u201d he said.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has left open the possibility of Japan looking at the capability of pre-emptive strikes against enemy bases. \u201cI don\u2019t think the rigid view we have maintained so far will alone be enough,\u201d Abe said at a House of Representative committee meeting last Tuesday.<\/p>\n