The government of Japan to suspend deployment of us missile defense Aegis Ashore in the prefectures of Akita and Yamaguchi. To review the decision reached in 2017 agreements with the United States, which became a painful blow to Washington, intended to demonstrate growing independence in Tokyo in matters of national security amid preparations for a referendum on the abolition of the 9th article of the Constitution, forbidding Japan to have an army. Abandoning American systems, Shinzo Abe expects to receive a new trump card in bargaining with Moscow, which considers the US missile defense in Japan an obstacle for talks to resolve the territorial issue and signing a peace Treaty.That the government of Japan has decided to refuse accommodation in the prefectures of Akita and Yamaguchi American anti-missile systems, Aegis Ashore, said Thursday the defense Minister Taro Kono. “I apologize in this situation,” said following the meeting of the national security Council, defense Minister of Japan.Mr. Kono acknowledged that the decision of the Tokyo three years ago the decision to place in Yamaguchi Prefecture in the southwest of Honshu island and in the Northern part of Akita Prefecture sets us Aegis Ashore given the realities of today should be reviewed.We will remind, the decision on placement in Japan two us ground-based Aegis Ashore cost 100 billion yen (about $890 million), the government of Shinzo Abe took in 2017, in the midst of the Korean crisis, when the country acutely the question arose about the protection of continued launches of North Korean missiles.However, in recent weeks, the Japanese leadership became louder to question the need for American systems Aegis Ashore, in fact, supporting the skeptical attitude of the authorities of the prefectures of Akita and Yamaguchi never gave permission for their location for security reasons.One of the main arguments against Aegis Ashore were fears that at start-up missiles will be impossible to ensure that their boosters will not fall in residential areas. It is noteworthy that three years ago the government considered the arguments about the insecurity of American systems are unfounded and strongly reassured the local population is convinced that rocket stages will fall strictly within the military range.Meanwhile today, the Japanese military experts came to the conclusion that addressing this deficiency would require additional funds and a lot of time — about ten years.Another argument in favor of abandoning Aegis Ashore was the conclusion that the options you ordered, the U.S. systems will not be able to intercept ballistic missiles of the latest modifications, as well as cruise missiles.On this circumstancesin summarizing the results of Thursday’s meeting of the national security Council, emphasized the head of the defense Ministry of Japan. According to him, the country is impractical to continue to rely on complexes Aegis, “given the current situation in the East China sea”.Alternatively, the us missile defense system land-based Japanese government is considering the use of cruise missiles launched from aircraft (the range is up to 1 thousand km). However, the Japanese government makes it clear that the final decision about the refusal of Aegis Ashore will require a long discussion inside the country and in coordination with the American allies who previously approved the transfer of Japan’s missile defense systems. “It is necessary now to think in the medium and long term, what to do. We intend to have an exchange of views with the government and the party and move forward,”— said the Minister Kono. Earlier, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that this summer he intends to begin discussing a new national security strategy in connection with plans to renounce the deployment in Japan of Aegis Ashore.”Although the process of deploying Aegis Ashore complexes suspended, the government of Japan further intends to carefully consider Japan’s security in the framework of the Constitution. The decision will be taken based solely on the need to ensure defence, taking into account the various discussions within the ruling party to protect the lives and peaceful life of citizens”,— explained “Kommersant” in the Embassy of Japan in Moscow.It is noteworthy that the decision to revise the agreement with Washington, which will be a painful blow for the strategy of Indo-Pacific security in the United States, the government of Shinzo Abe has taken on the background of the initiation of a referendum about cancellation of the 9th article of the Constitution adopted shortly after the defeat of Imperial Japan in world war II, in may 1947. “The notorious 9th article, which is often called pacifist forbids Japan to wage war as a means of settling international disputes and create their own army, Navy and air force. However, in the case of cancellation of Japan will gain the opportunity to have their own full-fledged army, not the self-defense forces as it is today, and will get greater autonomy in solving problems of their own safety. Taking into account possible changes in the Constitution in the government of Shinzo Abe and started to think about revising agreements with Washington,”— said “Kommersant” the Director of the Center for political studies Andrey Fedorov.”In the history of the failed deployment of U.S. Aegis Ashore system in Japan point to put early. However, in the case of the final rejection of them Prime Minister Abe will gain a new trump card in bargaining with Moscow thinks ABOUT US in Japan obstacle for talks to resolve the territorial issue and signing a peace Treaty”— sums up the expert.Sergey Strokan
