On June 13, Japan passed its first space exploitation policy, aiming to actively develop the space industry and serve national security.
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| A meeting of the Space Development Strategy Headquarters chaired by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on June 13. (Source: Kyodo News) |
On June 13, Japanese media reported that Tokyo approved its first space exploitation strategy, creating conditions for the development of space research, as well as space exploitation programs outside the atmosphere to serve the need to comprehensively develop national capabilities.
At a meeting of the Space Development Strategy Headquarters chaired by Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, delegates approved the Space Security Initiative and are expected to join the Joint Space Operations Center including the US, UK, Canada and Australia, with the aim of enhancing deterrence capabilities against increasing threats in space.
In addition, Japan also wants to increase data collection through a series of small satellites and strengthen cooperation between the Ministry of Defense and the Aerospace Exploration Agency.
In addition, the country also hopes to cooperate with the United States and other countries to enhance the effectiveness of countermeasures and establish global rules on the use of outer space.
This is not the first time Tokyo has expressed ambitions to expand its space capabilities. In August 2019, Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper quoted the government of this Northeast Asian country about its plan to establish a space unit.
Accordingly, at the air base in Fuchu city, west of Tokyo, 70 members of the corps will undergo training organized by the Japan Aerospace Research Agency in collaboration with the US military.
In addition, in the medium-term defense plan for the 2019-2023 period announced at the end of 2018, Japan identified space as an important aspect of its defense strategy.
In particular, in the context of the complicated regional security situation, Tokyo is particularly interested in strengthening its defense capabilities in space.
Therefore, in August 2019, the Ministry of Defense requested 52.4 billion yen ($484 million) in the fiscal 2020 budget to enhance space security capabilities, including establishing a space operations unit.
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