10-02-06, 8:56 am

With the launching of optical satellite No.2 on September 11, Japan now has three intelligence-gathering satellites in orbit. The fourth satellite is planned for next year.

In view of Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe Shinzo and other government officials arguing that Japan should increase its capabilities to 'attack enemy bases,' intelligence gathering using these satellites will constitute a serious threat to other countries.

Using North Korea's launching of ballistic missiles in 1998 as the pretext, the Japanese government decided to possess and operate four intelligence-gathering satellites and launched the first two satellites in March 2003 under the Koizumi Cabinet. In 2004, it launched two more that failed.

The intelligence-gathering satellites are in fact military spy satellites. Their aim is to monitor the military activities of other countries. The project is basically dependent on U.S. information. The Japanese government is thus seeking to play its part in line with the U.S. preemptive attack strategy.

However, Article 9 of the Constitution provides that Japan forever renounces 'war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.' Japan is prohibited from carrying out such espionage activities related to international affairs.

What's more, intelligence-gathering with satellites will accelerate the Koizumi Cabinet's argument justifying the 'attack enemy bases' policy and for developing capabilities for such attack.

Data obtained from these intelligence-gathering satellites will be used by Japan to identify military targets or as a pretext for developing long-range offensive weapons systems. The government must abandon any attempt that will lead to military conflicts.

The government has argued that these satellites are necessary for ensuring Japan's national security and disaster countermeasures. Given the fact that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which has the primary responsibility for dealing with major disasters, is denied access to this information, the government's argument is groundless.

The operation of the intelligence-gathering satellites is kept in secret from the Diet and the public eye. Such espionage activities must not be allowed to continue.

Launching four such satellites cost more than 500 billion yen. Replacing them every five years will require the same cost that will inevitably cut expenditures for public services. Such an endless and wasteful use of tax money is unacceptable.

The House of Representatives in 1969 adopted a 'Resolution on the Basics of Space Development and Use,' limiting its use to 'peaceful purposes'. The government, which accepted the word 'peace' to mean 'non military,' must be faithful to the resolution.

From Akahata