Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to release a statement on security policy regarding missiles by the end of this week, explaining the government's intention to make a decision by year-end on whether Japan should have the capability to attack enemy bases, sources said.
Abe initially expressed a willingness to decide on whether Japan should possess offensive capabilities while he was in office, but the discussion will be in the hands of the next prime minister. So that the statement is unlikely to be approved in a Cabinet meeting, to avoid making the decision binding for the next administration.
The government has informed the United States of its plans, along with the Liberal Democratic Party's ruling coalition partner Komeito, according to the sources.
In addition, deliberations over a replacement for the now-abandoned plan to deploy the land-based Aegis Ashore missile defense system will be postponed. The government had originally hoped to make a decision within this month, but discussions will now continue until the end of the year.
Currently, the leading idea within the government is to build a missile defense ship that specializes in intercepting ballistic missiles. The plan envisions installing Aegis Ashore radars and missile launchers on the ship.
Compared with Aegis destroyers equipped with state-of-the-art antiaircraft equipment, the number of personnel and costs needed to operate the envisioned ship can be kept low by limiting its functions. The government also hopes to win the understanding of the U.S. government by purchasing equipment from the United States.
However, it remains unclear if it will be possible to secure a permanent interceptor system and reduce the burden on the Maritime Self-Defense Force, as was expected from the deployment of Aegis Ashore.
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