The national defense and security divisions of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have proposed that the government consider letting the Self-Defense Forces attack military bases in enemy territory. The two LDP divisions made the proposal in view of North Korea's nuclear weapon and missile development programs.
But allowing the SDF to possess such capabilities carries the danger of increasing the arms race in Northeast Asia and destabilizing the security situation surrounding Japan. The LDP should refrain from giving these capabilities to the SDF.
In a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday, the chiefs of the LDP's two divisions said that their proposal should be reflected when the government revises the outline of its defense program toward the end of this year. The divisions also want the SDF to create units that have similar functions to that of the U.S. Marines, as well as to introduce MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, so that defense of remote islands will be strengthened.
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