JAPAN/AT SEA: Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera says Japan has the right to develop the ability to make a pre-emptive strike against an imminent attack, as tensions remain fraught with China in a maritime territory dispute

Record ID: 1963512

  • Title: JAPAN/AT SEA: Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera says Japan has the right to develop the ability to make a pre-emptive strike against an imminent attack, as tensions remain fraught with China in a maritime territory dispute
  • Date: 14th February 2013
  • Summary: AT SEA NEAR DIAOYU/SENKAKU ISLANDS (FEBRUARY 14, 2013) (CCTV - NO ACCESS CHINA) ONE OF THE DISPUTED DIAOYU/SENKAKU ISLANDS IN DISTANCE VARIOUS OF CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING IN FRONT OF SURVEILLANCE SHIPS CREW STANDING INSIDE SHIP ONE OF DISPUTED DIAOYU/SENKAKU ISLANDS IN DISTANCE CREW MEMBERS STANDING IN SHIP CREW MEMBER LOOKING OUT ONE OF DISPUTED DIAOYU/SENKAKU ISLAND
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords:
  • Location: At Sea, Japan
  • City:
  • Country: Japan At Sea
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVAE5O6HWV2749PALXOZ54AFLL4J
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Japan has the right to develop the ability to make a pre-emptive strike against an imminent attack given a changing security environment although it has no plan to do so now, the defence minister said on Thursday (February 14), days after North Korea conducted a third nuclear test.
    Any sign that Japan was moving to develop such a capability in response to North Korea's nuclear programme could upset neighbours China and South Korea, which have reacted strongly in the past to suggestions it might do so.

    "When an intention to attack Japan is evident, the threat is imminent, and there are no other options, Japan is allowed under the law to carry out strikes against enemy targets," Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera told Reuters in an interview.
    North Korea conducted its third nuclear test on Tuesday (February 12) , drawing condemnation from the United States, Japan, Europe and Pyongyang's only major ally, China.
    Onodera said it was still too early to look into changing the current stance of diplomacy but that it was necessary to keep options open.

    "Given Japan's peace-oriented diplomacy it has observed, this is not the time to make preparations (for building capability for pre-emptive strikes). But we need to carefully observe the changing security environment in the region," Onodera said.
    Onodera declined to say whether it was important to lift a self-imposed ban on exercising the right of collective self-defence, or coming to the aid of an ally under attack.
    Exercising that right is now prohibited under a long-standing interpretation of Japan's pacifist constitution but Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made clear he wants to lift the ban and a panel of advisers has begun discussing the topic Sino-Japanese ties chilled sharply after Japan's government in September nationalised three of the disputed islets, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

    "We have been working to create a maritime communication mechanism, from high-level hotlines to direct communication between ships and airplanes that are actually in the field. This has been discussed at working level talks and we hope that this can be implemented as soon as possible," Onodera said.
    The island row has escalated to the point where both sides have scrambled fighter jets while patrol ships shadow each other, raising worries that an unintended collision or other incident could lead to a broader clash.
    Chinese state broadcaster CCTV on Thursday reported that a group of Chinese marine surveillance ships patrolled within around 13 nautical miles of the islands, known as the Diaoyu in China and the Senkaku in Japan.
    The three ships moved from west to east past the islands on Thursday morning as part of their patrol during the Chinese New Year holiday, CCTV reported.
  • Copyright Holder: CCTV (China) - NO RESALE MAINLAND CHINA
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp This asset – including all text, audio and imagery – is provided by CCTV (China) - NO RESALE MAINLAND CHINA. Reuters does not guarantee the accuracy of, or endorse any views or opinions expressed in, this asset.
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register