Draft Policy for Space Development	No.634 May 26, 2009
		Another attack is waged to destroy Article Nine – the first space exploration plan drafted by the government’s Strategy Headquarters for Space Development. The draft plan contains concrete actions stemming from the Basic Law on Space Development which allows the nation to use space for military purposes and accelerate arms buildup. For instance, it covers a research program to develop an early warning satellite technology. ANOTHER ATTACK TO DESTROY ARTICLE NINE The draft will be finalized by the end of May, calling citizens in general for comments: it was compiled by the Experts’ Study Commission of the Strategy Headquarters for Space Development headed by Prime Minister Aso Taro, which was set up in accordance with the Basic Law on Space Development approved last May. Principles for Peaceful Use Renounced The law in question was enacted speedily: a two-hour debate, respectively, in the Lower and Upper Houses, without holding a public hearing and a question-and-answer session by experts. The approval was an easy outcome of allegedly broader coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), New Komeito and the opposition, Democratic Party of Japan. It is a law to kill the principle to use space for peaceful purposes, to which the country has dedicated itself in the development efforts for almost 40 years. The Diet passed the law in the surprisingly swift way. Until the law was enacted the nation had relied on the bi-cameral resolution adopted in 1969 pursuant to Article Nine after ratifying the United Nations Space Treaty. The resolution had specified to ‘use space for peaceful purposes’ and the Diet had clearly mentioned that peaceful purposes meant non-military commitment. In 1985, however, the government changed the stance: it explained that the Self Defense Forces could use the satellites as technologies had been already generalized. In 2003 Japan launched two reconnaissance satellites, but the government told that a sophisticated satellite with more advanced technologies than civilian ones violated the principle of peaceful purpose. Thus, the principle of peaceful purposes has been eroded gradually and at last thrown away. The law is characterized by four priorities: a nation-led general policy, industrialization, militarization and secrecy. The general national policy means to build up a unified channel to control space-related activities pursuant to the Basic Act on Space Development. The industrialization means to deny the principle to use space for peaceful purposes. The LDP and the Nippon Keidanren, or Japan Business Federation, have made joint efforts to pave the way to enact the law in question through industries. The industrialization practically means a state protection of military industries under the cover to bolster international competitiveness. Militarization represents an explicit intention to execute the right of collective defense, which is prohibited by Constitution, as they claim that ‘it will contribute to peace and security in the international community as well as heighten national security of Japan’. It is not an exaggeration that Japan’s military satellites would assist US first strike operations. Secrecy, which closely goes with militarization, will be secured by provisions ‘to implement necessary measures to control information properly’. Penalty will be imposed for violation to keep confidentiality in the state structure. Independent War Potential Let’s remember images of the Gulf War of 1991: in the living room we watched pin-point attacks on the TV screen. As you see, in the today’s war the ground attacks are waged principally with the satellite-guided missiles. A war cannot be staged without space technologies. The Japanese authorities attempt to compile a basic program so that they could wage a war independently of the US military satellites and without their support, and as a first job they will launch an early warning and control satellite. The idea that ‘the space is a common property of mankind’ is the basis for the international treaties, including UN Space Treaty, and is shared with by Constitution of Japan. The New Socialist Party adamantly condemns the government’s draft plan to urge militarization of space.