Easing Weapon Use Requirements to Counter Reconnaissance Balloons
China: "Smearing Our Country Without Evidence Like Chasing Clouds"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida strongly demanded China to prevent recurrence after a "reconnaissance balloon," presumed to be a Chinese unmanned reconnaissance device, was confirmed in Japanese airspace.
On the 15th, Prime Minister Kishida responded to questions related to the Chinese reconnaissance balloon at the Japanese House of Representatives Budget Committee, saying, "Through diplomatic channels, we strongly demanded the Chinese government to ensure that such incidents do not occur."
The previous day, Japan's Ministry of Defense announced that flying objects confirmed in Kagoshima Prefecture in November 2019, Miyagi Prefecture in June 2020, and Aomori Prefecture in September 2021 were strongly presumed to be Chinese reconnaissance balloons.
Accordingly, Kyodo News and NHK reported that the Japanese government is pushing to ease the requirements for the use of weapons against flying objects that violate airspace. According to the reports, a Ministry of Defense official stated at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party meeting that "we will review the requirements for the use of weapons, which are currently only allowed in cases of self-defense or emergency evacuation, when foreign flying objects such as Chinese reconnaissance balloons intrude into our airspace."
At the meeting, remarks criticizing the lax defense posture related to the announcement by the Ministry of Defense the previous day?that flying objects found in Japanese airspace from 2019 to 2021 are strongly presumed to be Chinese unmanned reconnaissance devices?continued.
Itsunori Onodera, chairman of the LDP Security Council and former Defense Minister, pointed out, "If we had not identified the flying objects as Chinese, that would be a big problem, but if we identified them and still did not protest, that is an even bigger problem," adding, "This is a case that raises concerns about a significant gap in Japan's defense."
The Japanese government is also considering measures to allow the use of weapons to secure the safety of aircraft flight paths. Initially, responses focused only on manned aircraft, but considering the active use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the military field, it is expected that related policies will be revised, Kyodo News reported.
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada emphasized at a press conference the previous day, "If foreign flying objects enter our airspace, the Self-Defense Forces' fighter jets can use weapons, including air-to-air missiles." The current Self-Defense Forces Law stipulates that if foreign aircraft intrude into Japanese airspace, the Self-Defense Forces can take necessary measures to force the aircraft to land or leave.
As Japan's claims continued, the Chinese government immediately rebutted. Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said regarding Prime Minister Kishida's statement that balloons that entered Japanese airspace three times in the past are presumed to be Chinese reconnaissance balloons, "We firmly oppose Japan's slandering and attacking China without solid evidence, grasping at straws."
Wang added, "China has already explained several times about the incident where a Chinese unmanned balloon mistakenly entered U.S. airspace. Japan should view this unexpected situation caused by force majeure objectively and fairly, and stop artificially manipulating and exaggerating it while following the United States."
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