Japan to build missile defense system

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 19, 2003

Japan to build missile defense system

The Japanese government on Friday formally decided to establish its missile defense system. The Security Council and the cabinet approved the Defense Agency's plan at a joint meeting on the day.

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The Japanese government on Friday formally decided to establish its missile defense system.

The Security Council and the cabinet approved the Defense Agency's plan at a joint meeting on the day, Kyodo News reported.

The government plans to allocate up to 100 billion yen (934 million US dollars) in the fiscal 2004 budget for the project. Theagency estimates 700 billion yen (6.5 billion dollars) will be needed for the entire missile system in a five-year period, Kyodo said.

Under the plan, Japan would introduce from the United States the SM-3 and PAC-3 missile systems to build a dual shield. The ground-to-air PAC-3 is able to intercept ballistic missiles which has reentered the atmosphere, while the ship-launched SM-3 has a longer range to punch the target outside the atmosphere.

Japan started the missile defense project after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea launched a rocket in 1998, which Japan claims a ballistic missile.

The decision is another demonstration that Tokyo is determined to ease restriction posed by the pacifist constitution on the Self-Defense Forces (SDF). Japan has sent troops abroad to provide support for the US military and participate UN peacekeeping operations. A contingency bill endorsed in June reinforced the commanding power of the prime minister and enabled the SDF to launch preemptive strikes.

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