The top officer of the U.S. Navy said Monday he hopes to see further collaboration with Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force on ballistic missile defense and minesweeping under Tokyo's new security policy.
Adm. Jonathan Greenert laid out his vision for expanded U.S.-Japan defense cooperation at a think tank event in Washington.
His comments came in the wake of Japan's July decision to legalize the use of the right to collective self-defense by changing the interpretation of the war-renouncing Constitution, a move which could allow Japan to play a more proactive role in international security matters.
Greenert said Japan's current missile interception technology and operational prowess would "fit in well" with U.S. capabilities in the face of the regional and international threat posed by North Korea's ballistic missile development.
He added that he envisions an expanded role for Japan in the area of countermine measures, especially in the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf where both nations have trade interests.
Such collaboration had previously been restricted under Japan's Constitution, which banned it from exercising the right to help allies such as the United States in a contingency even when Japan itself is not under attack.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government will still need parliamentary approval of bills yet to be submitted to allow the Self-Defense Forces to engage in collective-self defense.
On a recent near-collision between a Chinese fighter jet and a U.S. naval airplane in international airspace off the coast of China, Greenert said he is "concerned" that such an incident could happen again in the future.
Greenert suggested, however, there is no change in the Navy's plan to continue with reconnaissance activities in international airspace near China and urged the Chinese military to avoid further miscalculations through dialogue.
U.S. Navy wants Japan's bigger role in missile shield, minesweeping | GlobalPost
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/...ants-japans-bigger-role-missile-shield-minesw
Pictures of the JMSDF's 1st Escort Fleet in naval maneuvers
Adm. Jonathan Greenert laid out his vision for expanded U.S.-Japan defense cooperation at a think tank event in Washington.
His comments came in the wake of Japan's July decision to legalize the use of the right to collective self-defense by changing the interpretation of the war-renouncing Constitution, a move which could allow Japan to play a more proactive role in international security matters.
Greenert said Japan's current missile interception technology and operational prowess would "fit in well" with U.S. capabilities in the face of the regional and international threat posed by North Korea's ballistic missile development.
He added that he envisions an expanded role for Japan in the area of countermine measures, especially in the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf where both nations have trade interests.
Such collaboration had previously been restricted under Japan's Constitution, which banned it from exercising the right to help allies such as the United States in a contingency even when Japan itself is not under attack.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government will still need parliamentary approval of bills yet to be submitted to allow the Self-Defense Forces to engage in collective-self defense.
On a recent near-collision between a Chinese fighter jet and a U.S. naval airplane in international airspace off the coast of China, Greenert said he is "concerned" that such an incident could happen again in the future.
Greenert suggested, however, there is no change in the Navy's plan to continue with reconnaissance activities in international airspace near China and urged the Chinese military to avoid further miscalculations through dialogue.
U.S. Navy wants Japan's bigger role in missile shield, minesweeping | GlobalPost
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/...ants-japans-bigger-role-missile-shield-minesw
Pictures of the JMSDF's 1st Escort Fleet in naval maneuvers
