Japan Lower House Passes Bill on Defense Use of Space
Posted on: Tuesday, 13 May 2008, 18:00 CDT
Japan's House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon passed a bill to allow the nation to use space for defense purposes in a departure from its decades-old policy of restricting space development to peaceful purposes.
If enacted, the new law would pave the way for Japan's launching of early-warning satellites for the planned missile defense system.
Under a parliamentary resolution adopted in 1969, Japan has been using space only for nonmilitary purposes.
At a plenary session, the Lower House approved the bill by a majority vote, with support from the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito and also from the biggest opposition Democratic Party of Japan. Lawmakers of the three parties jointly submitted the bill.
The bill was sent to the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament. It is expected to be enacted during the ongoing Diet session, which will run through June 15.
Japan plans to set up a space development headquarters to be headed by the prime minister, and, in about a year after the new law is put into force, a space bureau at the Cabinet Office.
The new offices will take charge of enhancing the nation's competitiveness in the space industry, promoting international cooperation on the use of space and encouraging academic research on space.END
Source: Jiji Press English News Service
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